A message from Jill

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jill Boltz (in photo with Cahn below), Cahn’s running coach a few times and I’ve enjoyed watching her work with Cahn. Jill is more than qualified to train Cahn having ran the 3,000m and 10,000m for Great Britain at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games and was a silver medallist at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. More importantly though is Jill’s enthusiasm for running and energy she brings to training is incredible. Her training sessions with Cahn and his friends are no doubt hard work physically but they are also fun. It’s amazing to see Cahn enjoying his sport and the training sessions he does.

I love Jill’s updates on Facebook about the kids she trains and then photo she posts of them at events. She is such a supportive coach and she really understands how Cahn operates as an athlete. I recently asked Jill to send me a few comments about Cahn for to include in his blog and she wrote:

“there are so many great things about Cahn especially how motivated he is and humble he is. Despite his recent great results he has stayed grounded and focussed knowing there is a lot of hard work ahead in order to get to the next level. He has the potential to get to the National level and I am hoping he is beginning to believe this”

 

 

My brother

It’s been some months since Cahn has written on his blog and I thought I would kick start the blog again with a piece about Cahn from my perspective. There is 15 years age difference between Cahn and I and I feel this has given me a real appreciation of his achievements.

I clearly remember Cahn as a toddler....and if I had to describe him at that age, a few words I would use would be challenging, headstrong, determined, impatient and stubborn. While people would often see this side of Cahn at the shops for example, I think they would have felt sorry for my mum! She had her hands full that’s for sure! It’s funny though because on reflection these are some of the characteristics that I think make Cahn successful at whatever he puts his mind to.

From the moment he could walk, he was able to kick a soccer ball with both feet, had great coordination and was energetic but those physical attributes can only take you so far. It’s Cahn’s mental strength and focus that make him really excel. There aren’t many teenagers that get themselves out of bed at ridiculous hours of the morning day after day to train then go to school. Not to mention the days he trains after school and the events on the weekends. It’s constant and if he didn’t want to do that he wouldn’t. You can’t make a teenager spend their spare time climbing mountains or running kilometre after kilometre.

Cahn is his own worst critic and it takes a lot to impress himself. He is lucky though to have a strong network to support him during his training and races. This includes our mum, coach Jill, teachers, his training mates and his friends. I’ve found that letting Cahn know you are there is enough, especially in the lead up to events. He needs his space and its impressive to see him transform from his usual jovial teenage self to a focussed young man on a mission.

 

 

I believe in Cahn, as his sister I may be biased but I am very proud of him. He is a good person, kind, thoughtful and funny. Over time his goals will change, they may move from sporting goals or they may not. Whatever happens, Cahn has the mental strength to be successful at whatever he aims for.

Hopefully he writes again soon,

Gretl