Through triathlon, I have learned one especially important thing.
That is the value of always being sensitive to small changes in my body.
Running, cycling, swimming—day after day, the same routine repeats.
To an outside observer, it might look like I’m just running and swimming the same way every day.
To someone passing by, yesterday and today probably appear no different at all.
But inside my body as I train, an entirely different world is unfolding.
From the top of my head to the tips of my fingers and toes, I focus my awareness on every single movement—
how much force I apply, the angles of motion, speed, balance…
sharpening all my senses as I keep asking myself each day,
“Am I moving efficiently right now?”
When I notice those tiny changes, astonishing experiences are born.
“Huh? Today I’m running effortlessly.”
“I can’t believe how fast I’m going.”
“I feel a kind of power I’ve never felt before.”
The moment I become aware of even the slightest difference in movement, I can truly feel my own growth.
This, to me, is the real joy of triathlon.
And then I realized—
this same awareness applies to life.
In life, dramatic changes don’t happen every day.
But noticing, recognizing, and acting upon those small changes—
I believe that steady accumulation is what leads to growth and progress.
The “ability to notice small changes” that I cultivated through triathlon
has become useful in my daily life and work as well.
Even in the most ordinary moments, sharpening my awareness and focusing on the present—
I feel that this is what makes my life richer and more fulfilling.