Page 19 - FIS World Feb 2019

successes. Likewise, when we face our own goals, we have to be focused, we have to be disciplined and, most importantly, we have to be patient.
Blood, Sweat and Fear
Swimming was Ms. Vidueria’s Achilles heel. While she had an intrinsic ability with mountain biking and running, she had only been swimming for one year before the competition. The open swim was
a real fear for Vanessa, but just as in life, sometimes we have to do things we don’t like to get to where we need to go. With diligence and discipline, Vanessa swam three times a week and despite losing her goggles and swim cap during the competition, she prevailed. She reminds us that,
“we are all capable of doing much more and most people live with self-imposed limits. Things are pretty easy for us in today’s society and we are constantly trying to find shortcuts and easier ways of doing things. It’s only by challenging ourselves that we can get closer to our best.”
Only a small fraction of people will ever compete in XTERRA, but we all have our own challenges we are trying to overcome; maybe it’s learning a new language, maybe it’s joining a new school activity, maybe it’s just getting to school on time.
Ms. Vidueria’s accomplishment is a terrific reminder that we are all capable of doing much more than most of us ever try. You’ll never know what you
can do until you push the limits. Don’t be afraid to try and fail, but be afraid of never trying.
Juliette Gustavsson FIS Parent
Ms. Vidueria teaches a lesson on handball to
a few of those who provide her inspiration - her students (above); two of the three legs of the XTERRA race (left and below)
February 2019 FIS World 17