The Power of Support

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”  -Booker T. Washington

The 2018 Boston Marathon was Desi Linden’s 6th attempt at winning it. She had been haunted for years by the memory of the 2011 race where she lost by 2 seconds. The 2018 race started about as bad as it could- a deluge of icy rain with relentless 25-mph headwinds, and temperatures in the high 30s had already made the race more challenging. 

Desi started the race with doubt, “It seemed to not be my year. I just expected it was a thing where it  was going to be a rebuilding [race]. At the start (of  the race), within seconds, everyone is drenchedunrelenting headwinds, horizontal deluge, near freezing temperatures. It was a perfect trifecta.”

Shalane Flanagan 2017 NY City Marathon champion and 2018 Boston competitor shared that Desi had told her that, “Hey, it’s not going to be my day, let me know if you need anything.” I grabbed her shoulder and said, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” She said she was fine; it just wasn’t her day.

Instead of dwelling on how bad she was feeling and on the weather conditions, Desi turned her attention to helping her fellow American. “When you work together, you never know what’s gonna happen,” Linden said. “Helping her helped me, and I kind of got my legs back from there.” In doing so, she became the first U.S. woman in three decades to win the Boston Marathon.

Summary

• The 34-year-old woman ran with doubt, fear, and ultimately unbreakable resolve.  When she turned her attention to helping Flanagan, she helped herself. 
• Nicole Detling, Ph.D., sports psychologist says that our brains release endorphins (pain reducer), dopamine (increases motivation and focus) and serotonin (boosts mood) when we focus on other people. Additionally, when we bond with others, we realize we aren’t alone in our challenges.

Reflection

1. Which teammate can you turn your focus and attention on when you feel like it’s not your day? How could this help the overall team success?
2. How does shifting your focus to help others elevate you?
3. Identify a teammate or coach that has turned their focus to you. How did it benefit you? 

Moving Forward

Consider: The next time you are struggling, do something that helps you feel more connected to those around you. Maybe it’s cheering on a teammate or someone that is struggling or simply just giving them a fist bump.

Implement: Share this story with someone that would benefit from shifting their focus to a teammate.

Expand: For the complete  motivational story told through the eyes of Desi and those around her, scan the QR code below:

 “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” –Napoleon Hill

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