Wednesday's Child

WEDNESDAYS CHILD, By Shawn Alladio 5/2009

Ryan Levinson and Joe after our training session that ended early Wednesday evening pictured below.

We ran offshore on 3 Jet Skis. The goal is to find the break time of endurance. Starting out at clips of 3-5 miles of a fast run, a short break and repeating the reciprocal direction.

One of our riding goals is to develop landing strength for core stability on port and starboard, as well as the centerline of the craft fore and aft. The landings are always crucial, from the centerline of the craft, bow to stern, depending upon how we run the ocean, getting out of step can result in an injury or ejection from the craft.

We run triagulation patterns to build memory for both the decisions for craft handling and fast run stability, but not limited to taking loads against the hull at various water directions. Maintaining this load at a forward movement is not easy, as trim and throttle have to be constantly managed.

Peak peformance will come from a combination of trim/throttle control, environmental and trim choices underway at or near close peak of wide open throttle application. Many people can run a fast clip at one mile, but we are talking 60 mile jaunts, no backing off, no unequal loads and no ejections. That's PRIME TIME driving.

The ocean on Wednesday gave just enough clap to bring out the finer points of fatigue. The mindset of an operator is the brilliance of a finely crafted run. We train our minds, then our body to match the strength of our boat. Then apply increased speeds with applied timelines, and offset those by directional changes. This is where we find our level of mediocrity. When we find ourselves comfortable, it is time to push harder.

This is what we do. How we do it, matters on the water in the moment of decisiveness. Time limits compliment our breaking points, but we do not break our bodies down completely, we allow the push points to hold firm, then relax. When we have hit our max load, we retire.

The next transit run will depend upon weather and water. Running a course that is not familiar is important. When familiarity interrupts the level of desired output, we become weak. To surrender to that can translate into an injury. Not acceptable in my focus. If we cannot define everything we are operating with; boat, body, and water, and in step with forward movement 'at speed', we are not 'riding the ride'. We are merely talking about talk, and that story is boring and unacceptable, offering few moments of glory.

Training is nothing but preparation, until the battle begins, training is just time paid in. Those training results are exposed as a real world truth when we are placed under pressure, it reveals who you truly are. What are you made of?

The men I run with win. If they do not have the passion to excel, they will take themselves out of the equitable endurance of what drives a champion. Champions are those who have many layers of measured mindset connected to body execution. Having worked with thousands of athletes some things just stand out in human character. Passion is one element. When we run in teams, the team must win, simply put, it must. Whatever your boundary is, you own that, I prefer to drive through them and redefine the next movement.

I observe everything, above, below and within. I can choose who I train with, or they choose me. It depends upon the door. If I shut that door and that person still knocks and continues to knock and shows fortitude with strength and honor, the door opens. There are many who want to excel but are not willing to take themselves there. They believe there is some secret or stepping stone to leap from. Wrong.


That drive is internal and innate to character. It resides in the individual. I observe and I can spot one out of a group (If I'm lucky enough to have one there), you just know they are the real deal, nothing more said. In essence they will teach and lead themselves by example not by following or leading, but through duality in the moment of necessity. They simply go and put forth great effort in every movement. Their weakest moment can encompass anothers full moment, not acceptable in my book. If you want to run in a pack, you set the pace, you don't follow the pace. You push and drive the momentum beyond your pain or comfort.

At 48 years of age if I see a young pup falling behind me, disgrace, disgrace! They should be putting out beyond their comfort or my lead. Not acceptable. Weak minds and effort kill, they destroy synergy. People like this must go away or seriously ramp up. Of course the learning curve allows opportunity to trial, test and fail but the recovery is the weapon of choice, how you recover and respond is what makes the heart and soul of a spirited warrior, no matter what the discipline application is.

I had a student say he was afraid. That's honest and respectful. He said he didn't want to go back into the surf. That's honest. He said he was fearful because of his last experience. Now, here is the crutch. I challenged him to go back into the surf. Which he did. That was honorable. And immediately he created his prophecy. When the wave came he abandoned ship. Not acceptable. Fear is either going to enoble you to drive forward or it is going to kill. Passion and spirit diminish with fear, its is a bondage, a slavery of imagination.

I turned to him, 'are you hurt?'. 'No' he replied, 'but I'm scared and I dont' want to do this.' I said 'good, let's go'. He looked at me and he hesitated. One must simply go and accept the results within the boundaries of comfort. He was not hurt, the waves were not beyond his ability nor his craft, he was capable. But he crippled his mind so much and gave his power away to the ocean, instead of keeping it inside of himself. He threw himself away. His experience was yesterday. Today we go, with open minds to learn from our failures. If you continue to block your experiences because of a safety measure you create through fear, you will eventually call that out and damage yourself. There are moments where fear will save your life. But fear should not cripple you from your level of excellence. Keep Moving-Keep Thinking!

Do you see the message here? Most of you are intimate with it and could write novels on the subject of our spirited decisions and the relevance of going the distance and whatever results are derived. What motivates you? I know what my triggers are. I can define them and push that fold a little with each launch. Ryan defines it every single day because his situation forces him. If you are not being pressured you will turn feral on attitude. Keep primed, find inspiration. Folks like Ryan gift that to you through example.

After our ride, Ryan and Joe stepped up immediately without asking or having to be directed, they simply did what was needed to complete 'the ride after the ride'. These two go the distance to its ending. They aren't there just for the 'ride'. That is part of a champion's character. Examples are not looked for, they are set through action.

I rinsed off with the hose, changed my clothes at the boat launch and readied myself for the Water Safety Congress award I was to receive in 30 minutes at the Oceanside Yacht Club. Mike Alpha did a drive by and picked me up and we headed to the US Power Squadrons meeting where Paul Newman from the USCG 11th District did me the honors. A very fitting day. From family, friends, training and rewards. Our efforts matter, maybe not in our moment, but perhaps someone else's.


We will get there, one hot run at a time... We 'Ride the Ride'.



Double D-'The Ride After The Ride'