Court Your Sport: Using the love of your sport for motivation

Athlete Acknowledgement of Risk, Release of Liability and Agreement:

I understand that this Acknowledgement of Risk, Release of Liability and Agreement is applicable to Bolton Endurance Sports Training, its coaches, associate coaches, employees, managers, members, affiliates, agents consultants and trainers (hereinafter the â€œReleased Partiesâ€), and I voluntarily enter this agreement. I am applying to participate in the Bolton Endurance Sports Training athletic training program and related activities (collectively referred to as â€œTrainingâ€) being fully aware that the Training involves risks. I accept all the risks of participating in the Training, even if they are created by the carelessness or negligence of a Released Party or anyone else. Risks of the Training include, without limitation, risks of bicycling, indoors or on roads and highways open to traffic, running, on roads, trails or treadmills, swimming in pools or in open water, lakes, oceans or other bodies of water, triathlon, duathlon, physical exertion, training and competing in large groups of people which may create the risk of falls, contact or other trauma, and other risks associated with intense physical activities. I understand these risks exist, that they are beyond the control of Bolton Endurance Sports Training and its employees, affiliates and/or coaches, and I voluntarily accept and assume these risks as part of the Training I will undertake. Additional risks are described on the accompanying List of Possible Hazards. I know there are other risks too that are not listed and I voluntarily accept them too. I fully release, discharge and waive any Claims I may have, now or in the future, against the Released Parties, even if such Claims are based on the carelessness or negligence of a Released Party or anyone ("Claims" as used in this document means any and all liabilities, claims, demands, legal actions, and rights of action for damages, property damage, personal injury or death) which are related to or in any way connected with my participation in the Training which I or my heirs or personal representative could make.

I AGREE NOT TO SUE THE RELEASED PARTIES FOR CLAIMS, EVEN IF THE CLAIMS ARISE FROM THE CARELESSNESS OR NEGLIGENCE OF A RELEASED PARTY OR ANYONE ELSE. I AGREE TO INDEMNIFY (REIMBURSE FOR ANY LOSS) AND HOLD HARMELSS EACH RELEASED PARTY, FROM ANY LOSS OR LIABILITY (INCLUDING ANY REASONABLE ATTORNEYS FEES THEY MAY INCUR) DEFENDING ANY CLAIM MADE BY ME OR BY ANYONE MAKING A CLAIM ON MY BEHALF, EVEN IF THE CLAIM IS ALLEGED OR DID RESULT FROM THE CARELESSNESS OR NEGLIGENCE OF A RELEASED PARTY OR ANYONE ELSE I UNDERSTAND THAT BY SIGNING BELOW, I AM GIVING UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS AND RELEASING THE RELEASED PARTIES FROM LIABILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. I ACKNOLEDGE THAT I AM VOLUNTARILY GIVING UP THOSE RIGHTS, AND AM VOLUNTARILY UNDERTAKING THE INDEMNITY OBLIGATIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

I am aware that there is no obligation for any person to provide me with medical care during the Training. If medical care is rendered to me, I consent to that care if I am unable to give my consent for any reason at the time that the care is rendered. I am aware that it is advisable to consult a physician prior to participating in the Training. If I have consulted a physician, I have taken the physician's advice. I grant my permission to Bolton Endurance Sports Training and to its transferees and licensees, to utilize any photographs, motion pictures, videotapes, recordings and any other references or records of the Training which may depict, record, or refer to me for any purpose, including commercial use, by Bolton Endurance Sports Training, its sponsors, associate coaches and their licensees.I understand that the Bolton Endurance Sports Training coaches, assistant coaches, members, trainers, agents and other affiliates are NOT physicians or health care professionals, and do not have medical training, and are NOT qualified to provide medical advice or consultation. I agree to consult my own physician in connection with any pain, ailment, injury, illness, reaction or other physical or medical condition that may be associated with the Training, and I specifically release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all liability, costs, expenses or obligations in connection with any such physical injuries or issues.I agree to abide by the rules of Bolton Endurance Sports Training in any of its training camps. I acknowledge that, if I violate any of these rules, I may be removed from the training camp and the permission for me to participate in the Training camp may be withdrawn by representatives of Bolton Endurance Sports Training. Others may violate the rules of the camps, adding to the risks of participation. No warranties have been made to me about the Training.I intend that this document act as the broadest and most inclusive assumption of risk, waiver, release of liability, agreement not to sue and indemnity as is permitted by the laws of the State of New Mexico. If any portion of it is held to be invalid, I agree that the rest of it shall continue in full force and effect. The singular of nouns and pronouns in this document includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. I agree that this agreement was made in Santa Fe, NM and that the laws of the State of New Mexico shall govern its interpretation and enforcement.If the participant is under 18 years of age, the parent agrees to the following statements: As a parent or guardian of the participant, I authorize the child to participate. I also join in the statements and agreements made by the participant in this document. I agree that, in the event participant or anyone acting on his or her behalf should make any Claims, I will provide the indemnities described in paragraph 3. List of Possible Hazards The following is a partial list of hazards that are often associated with training for triathlon, duathlon, bike racing, running, swimming, cross country skiing, and other such endurance events: Falls resulting in broken bones, sprains, strains, contusions, and equipment damage. Collisions with other athletes or vehicles on the road or trail. Drowning during open water swimming.Saddle sores, crotch rash, neck and back pain, and hand numbness related to bicycle riding. Tendonitis and bursitis, muscle strains and/or tears, and trigger points. Upper respiratory infections associated with heavy training loads. Heart attack and other heart-related symptoms.Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipations (due to dehydration issues) Blood in urine or issues trying to urinate, high ketones or protein levels. Men: penile numbness, prostatitis, swollen testicles, and impotence from bicycling. Women: nipple pain from friction, vulvar swelling, groin and chest rashes, and yeast infections. Anemia, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and exposure to pollution, weight loss, immune system issues due to improper recovery and nutritional needs.Post goal race depression following your "A" race for the season. Reactions to chlorine, possible ear infections, excessive dry skin (worse in cold climates), change in hair color, and nasal infections.Heat stroke, sunburn, hypothermia, frost bite, or other conditions related to outdoor training or extreme weather conditions.

Court Your Sport: Using the love of your sport for motivation
by
Colleen Sager, M.S., Sport Psychology Consultant

Have you ever noticed that being a competitive athlete is much like being in a romantic relationship? Both require commitment; a willingness to work on the problems that inevitably will arise, and when everything is going smooth, your self-confidence gets a boost. There may also be times when you question if the hard work is worth continuing the relationship. It’s during these challenging times that you need to remind yourself why and how you fell in love in the first place.

With the reality of 2020 being a race-less season for many athletes, the motivation to commit to training is quickly dwindling. Here are some tips to help you court your sport – using the love you have for being an athlete to motivate you.

Commitment:
Be honest, how committed are you to your sport? Sure, you’ve hired a coach, you eat a balanced diet most of the time, you stick to your training plan, but can you do more? In order to be truly committed, you have to love it all the time, not just when things are going good. WOW, this being an athlete thing really IS like being in a long-term relationship. So, how committed are you? Is this just a fling, or do you see yourself in this for the long run? However you define your relationship with your sport, make sure your level of commitment matches your relationship status.

Fall in love with your talent:
What was it about your sport that initially caught your eye? Was it a desire to develop the talent necessary to compete, or did you already possess the skills and you wanted to improve on them? Remind yourself what it was about your talent that you fell in love with. When we are doing the things we love, it makes the hard work possible. Much like in a relationship when you look at your partner and you are reminded what it is about them you love so much, start to look at your talents in the same way. You can’t have a good attitude about your sport if you don’t love your talents.

Work on your weaknesses:
While you thought about your athletic ability – what you are you good at and why you love your sport – you might have also thought about what your weaknesses are. Having a weakness in your sport, is not a bad thing. Ask any professional athlete what their weak spot is when it comes to their sport, not only will they admit they have one or several, but they will also tell you what they are doing to improve on that weakness. Going back to our relationship analogy, every relationship has areas that could use a little tweaking – so ask yourself, “what are my weaknesses and what am I doing to improve them?”

Self-Confidence:
Don’t let the fact that you have areas of your sport that need attention distract you from thinking positively. William James was a professor of psychology at Harvard University after years of research on the brain and human behavior, he wrote, “People tend to become what they think about themselves”. Reminding yourself every day how committed you are to your sport, what it is that you love about it, and how to improve on it keeps your sport fun allowing you to find the motivation to continue training through the good times and the bad.

Remember, loving something or someone doesn’t mean it won’t feel like work to you, it means that you feel the work you do for it is all worth it.

If you have specific questions for Colleen, or would like more information about working with her, she can be reached at [email protected].