Lane4 on the road to 2012 - 500 days to go
15 March 2011
Tuesday 15 March 2011 marks 500 days to go until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. UK companies are gearing up for the event and Lane4 more than most.
Lane4 has a unique heritage in elite sport and business performance. From driving employee and business performance through Olympic sponsorship, to participating as elite performers and coaches, we are uniquely placed to support organisations, team and individuals to make the most of the London Games.
As the countdown begins in earnest, some Lane4 employees reflect on what 500 days to go means to them personally.
Greg Searle
Practice Director and London 2012 hopeful. Greg is aiming to compete in London and win his second rowing gold medal 20 years after his first, aged 40.
The 500 day mark is very exciting, and there is a real sharpening of focus on the final goal - which for me is a second gold medal. As an athlete it can be very difficult as the goal you are training towards for such a long time can feel so far away. 500 days makes it more real – today really matters. You must use everyday as a stepping stone towards that goal.
Dominic Mahony
Client Services Director, Olympic bronze medallist Modern Pentathlete and Team Manager for GB Modern Pentathlon Team.
As Manager of Team GB Pentathletes, we have been concentrating on the start of qualifications (which began in January) so 500 days to go is quite an unusual milestone for us. The London Organising teams seem on track, or even ahead of the curve, making the process easier and more straightforward for everyone else involved.
Mark Richardson
Senior Consultant and former Olympic silver medallist 400m runner.
As an athlete, coming up to big events I would feel a sence of urgency and excitement. As a consultant, I feel those same emotions but in a different form. London 2012 will be the greatest sporting show on the planet. It will be a huge value-add for Lane4 clients who partner to the Olympics and we are working with them to help inspire personal best performance everyday for their employees.
Charlie Unwin
Lane4 Consultant, former GB Modern Pentathlete and sport psychology coach for the GB Fencing Team.
As a sports psychologist to several teams and athletes, there are mixed feelings at 500 days to go. Some of the people I'm working with are on the fringes of 2012 – working towards the tough qualifying for the Games. There are lots of hurdles still to go before we get to qualifying, and then the Games themselves. A landmark like this, picked up in the media, can be a distraction to the goal setting process. You need to reinforce day-to-day goals to stay connected to where individual athletes are in their journey, asking 'Are you on track today?'
Matt Rogan
Commercial Director and co-author of 'Britain and the Olympic Games: Past, Present, Legacy'.
The 500 days mark conjures up a multitude of thoughts and feelings. As a country, we have 500 days to make sure London is ready to house and transport the thousands of visitors coming to watch the events. As an author, I have 500 Days left to hit the fundraising target from proceeds of the book I published with my Dad in November. As a husband and father, I must remember to register the family for tickets!
Alison Mowbray
Senior Consultant and former Olympic silver medallist rower.
I have applied to be a London 2012 volunteer and now have an interview date. The Games are getting very real and very close and I'm so excited to be associated in any way I can.
It's also a great opportunity to reflect on the goal-setting process, and allign your own gold medal performance with the start of the Olympics. Using a one day at a time philosophy, you can break a large goal in to smaller chunks. And if you spent 10 minutes a day for 500 days working towards your goal, think how much better you will be, and how much closer you will be to achieving it. Ask yourself 'What do I want to have achieved in 500 days?'
Sean Conroy
Lane4 Communications Intern. Sean has been selected for the World Class Start rowing programme, which identifies and develops talented athletes.
500 days-to-go until London 2012 excites me as I have aspirations to row for Great Britain. Being relatively new to the sport I won't be in a position to compete in this Olympics. However the sense of anticipation amongst the squad is heightened at each of these milestones and they are a powerful reminder that everyday counts from now on. In terms of training, quality and consistency are ever important. For me London 2012, which once felt so distant, is just around the corner and selection for Rio 2016 is fast approaching.
2011-03-11