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The Magic of Taking Risks
Sep 20, 2014 4:08 PM
By Adrienne Forgette - FF/S
If it wasn't for Sanjay Gupta, I would not be teaching at Darlington.
You see, in 2012, I was chosen to be on Sanjay Gupta's CNN Fit Nation triathlon team. I spent nine months blogging for CNN and appeared on Sanjay's weekend morning show multiple times. The experience took me to Atlanta, Kona, and Malibu to train and race with Sanjay and the team for my first triathlon. While in Atlanta, I was mentored by Nina Lovel, a 2011 CNN Fit Nation alum from none other than Rome, Ga.
Sanjay didn't get me the job here, but knowing Nina lived in the community factored into our decision to move to Rome. Call it coincidence, but I believe I was meant to find Darlington this way. It was a benefit of me taking the risk of applying for the CNN team.
Now as an alum of the program, I was asked to mentor one of the 2014 team members and chose to race with her in Malibu this September.
I was hesitant at first because I haven't been training as hard as I did the first time around, but knowing how much it meant to my husband to race again kept me going.
I'm very grateful to have landed among a great community of triathletes here in Rome. Ironwoman Jennifer Tullis let Chris and I join in on her 5 a.m. swim sessions. Nina Lovel's coach at Berry gave me a few pointers on how to tweak my stroke.
And I am grateful I took the risk of returning to race.
Hanging out with Sanjay Gupta for the weekend and having our daughters meet him was enough in itself. But hearing advice the night before the race from Rajesh Durbal, a triple amputee, or from the other alums, was just as meaningful and inspiring.
Another priceless moment was when CNN photographer and Ironman Jeremy Freeman, handed over his camera to me as he headed into the Pacific to practice ins and outs with the team. I looked official for those next 30 minutes, snapping away.
No one can totally predict the conditions of a race course. I couldn't have predicted that a car would attempt a U-turn 20 ft in front of me on my last downhill, but I can control how I react to obstacles before me.
There are many finish lines in life -- but you can't cross them unless you choose to start the race.
There is always someone more scared than you. We met a woman the day before the race in the parking lot who just came to pick up her free T-shirt but wasn't going to rack her bike because she was too scared. After talking to the motley crew of CNN Fit Nation alums, she gathered the courage to go to her car and rack her bike.
Putting yourself outside your comfort zone helps you grow.
And so I am thankful that the stars aligned to bring me to Rome, and I will continue to trust in the magic of taking risks.
What opportunities do you have in front of you that you are hesitant to tackle? Believe in the magic of taking risks and its unforeseen benefits.
Looking for your next challenge? CNN Fit Nation is looking for its next team -- if you're looking for a transformational life-changing experience, send in your I-report (let me know that you did), and we may be racing together next September in Malibu.
You see, in 2012, I was chosen to be on Sanjay Gupta's CNN Fit Nation triathlon team. I spent nine months blogging for CNN and appeared on Sanjay's weekend morning show multiple times. The experience took me to Atlanta, Kona, and Malibu to train and race with Sanjay and the team for my first triathlon. While in Atlanta, I was mentored by Nina Lovel, a 2011 CNN Fit Nation alum from none other than Rome, Ga.
Sanjay didn't get me the job here, but knowing Nina lived in the community factored into our decision to move to Rome. Call it coincidence, but I believe I was meant to find Darlington this way. It was a benefit of me taking the risk of applying for the CNN team.
Now as an alum of the program, I was asked to mentor one of the 2014 team members and chose to race with her in Malibu this September.
I was hesitant at first because I haven't been training as hard as I did the first time around, but knowing how much it meant to my husband to race again kept me going.
I'm very grateful to have landed among a great community of triathletes here in Rome. Ironwoman Jennifer Tullis let Chris and I join in on her 5 a.m. swim sessions. Nina Lovel's coach at Berry gave me a few pointers on how to tweak my stroke.
And I am grateful I took the risk of returning to race.
Hanging out with Sanjay Gupta for the weekend and having our daughters meet him was enough in itself. But hearing advice the night before the race from Rajesh Durbal, a triple amputee, or from the other alums, was just as meaningful and inspiring.
Another priceless moment was when CNN photographer and Ironman Jeremy Freeman, handed over his camera to me as he headed into the Pacific to practice ins and outs with the team. I looked official for those next 30 minutes, snapping away.
No one can totally predict the conditions of a race course. I couldn't have predicted that a car would attempt a U-turn 20 ft in front of me on my last downhill, but I can control how I react to obstacles before me.
There are many finish lines in life -- but you can't cross them unless you choose to start the race.
There is always someone more scared than you. We met a woman the day before the race in the parking lot who just came to pick up her free T-shirt but wasn't going to rack her bike because she was too scared. After talking to the motley crew of CNN Fit Nation alums, she gathered the courage to go to her car and rack her bike.
Putting yourself outside your comfort zone helps you grow.
And so I am thankful that the stars aligned to bring me to Rome, and I will continue to trust in the magic of taking risks.
What opportunities do you have in front of you that you are hesitant to tackle? Believe in the magic of taking risks and its unforeseen benefits.
Looking for your next challenge? CNN Fit Nation is looking for its next team -- if you're looking for a transformational life-changing experience, send in your I-report (let me know that you did), and we may be racing together next September in Malibu.
