Luis Moresco Life Personal Fitness www.sunlive.co.nz

Dear Readers, what I am about to tell you is a mixture of different stories that happened last Sunday, September 26.

Like my friend Beethoven used to say, ‘the best way to start is from the beginning' and on this day for LIFE Personal Fitness the day started at 5.30am in the morning – sorry it was 6.30am with daylight savings!

When we arrived at the beach we started to set up our tent and at the same time people from events promotions were setting up the finish line for the ‘City to Surf'. So we all set our tents up and when 8am rolled around our athletes started arriving.

As from my experience playing professional volleyball and representing Brazil at international level, I saw on their faces the same nervous tension and anxieties as I used to feel when I stepped on the court to play world title under-17 indoor volleyball.
So in the back of my mind the first thing that came up was what my father taught me when I called him the night before the game. He use to turn around and say: ‘No matter what happened, no matter who won or lost the only thing you need to think is on the end you did everything you got to win the game!'

So thinking about what he said I came up with my own philosophy which is ‘Give everything you have got – sometimes does not mean you are winning, but if you enjoy and have fun, I can guarantee the happiness will bring you more than actually a title.' So when I look at those athletes everyone has a different story and I could actually write a book about this day; but what I am about to tell you is a general story about the event.

As the day progresses, all the athletes arrive at the beach and they jump in the van and I drove them to the start point. When we arrived at Sulphar Point we just wanted to check that everybody registered and was ready for the run. The organisation and set up was amazing, its events like this that make my job easy and make more and more people enjoy. After we resisted we waited on the starting line with all our Athletes wearing our black LIFE Personal Fitness shirt, we had 25 athletes register under LIFE Personal Fitness Club but when we arrived there there was at least 35 athletes wearing our LIFE Personal Fitness shirts. There was 35-40 minutes before start so everybody had time to chat about the run and encourage each other. Just before I left without them knowing I did a great look and say to myself ‘they are already winners!'
I was so proud to see all these people crossing all the boundaries and obstacles to show up on this Sunday morning and challenge themselves on this 12km run. Waiting on the finish line for the athletes to arrive feeling a little bit anxious and excited at the same time, as I mentioned before some of these people have never attempted anything like this in their life!

Once they all started arriving I can tell you at least five different feelings, but the one that stands out the most is happy-happy to see all my athletes crossing the line! And for those who ran on Sunday, you can hold your head high and say ‘I am a winner' with a big smile no matter what time, no matter if I run, walk or crawl, the only thing I say to you and everybody at the event is congratulations. Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve there is a series of obstacles and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Something your greatest asset is, is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else, as all your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them. A big thank you to all the people involved with this event and we look forward to seeing you again at the next challenge.

‘Don't limit your challenge, challenge your limits' - Luis Moresco.