American Ninja Warrior Lance Pekus reflects on learning from mistakes

American Ninja Warrior has a handful of beloved long-time veterans. Ninjas the followers wish to watch 12 months after 12 months as a result of they simply downright like them as folks and wish to see them succeed. Lance Pekus is certainly a kind of Ninjas.

Season 12 marks Lance’s ninth season on the present. In these years, he’s skilled the ups and downs of the course and life. Lance’s two younger youngsters have grown up watching him on the present. He and his spouse Heather have shared their journey with Heather’s a number of sclerosis. He’s made it to the Nationwide Finals 5 instances. And, like this season, he’s gone residence earlier than he was prepared.

After finishing the Qualifying course, Lance fell on the stability impediment, Burn Rubber, within the Semi-Finals. The frustration was apparent, but it surely made us take into consideration one thing Lance mentioned to us in our interview earlier than his run.

Be a lifelong learner and on a regular basis is a brand new lesson.

Elizabeth Morris/NBC

“I all the time overthink issues or overlook obstacles that I feel are straightforward. I’ve to focus on every impediment. Final 12 months harm as a result of I fell on the impediment that I did the night time earlier than. And I did it actual effectively, and I used to be truly the primary one to finish it that night time. So it harm to fall on that after I already knew what it felt like. I ought to have been capable of do it simply tremendous.

So simply studying from my errors every year, hopefully coming again stronger, higher, smarter. I’ve undoubtedly achieved some completely different coaching on the off season. I had just a little bit extra time final 12 months, and I used to be attempting to inspire my youngsters. My youngsters, Gracie’s in first grade now, Grayson’s in kindergarten. Day-after-day is a studying expertise, from rolling a ball down and telling them why it rolls and ‘Why does it roll?’ ‘As a result of it’s spherical.’ I’m not seeking to the purpose the place faculty will get into geometry and stuff like that as a result of I hate geometry. But it surely’s enjoyable proper now.

Day-after-day is certainly a studying expertise. However additionally they get to the purpose the place you attempt to sneak faculty in an excessive amount of. Like, ‘Why do I’ve to all the time do faculty? You don’t do faculty. You’re not studying.’ And it’s like, ‘Nicely, we go to work. We’ve already achieved our studying.’ However that may solely go to date typically, so I’m like if I’m not being position mannequin for my youngsters to see, be a lifelong learner, that I ought to present that to them.

So I made a decision to attempt to be taught one thing new, and I type of went again to… Gracie’s in first grade, and I went again to after I was in first grade. I’ve just a little image of me in first grade, and it asks, ‘What do you wish to be if you develop up?’ And being a 90s child in first grade, High Gun and Blue Angels was the factor. So I used to be like, ‘All proper, I wish to be a pilot.’ And that’s one thing that’s type of all the time been at the back of my head and caught. Despite the fact that I by no means turned knowledgeable pilot or an Air Drive pilot or one thing, I believed, ‘Possibly I ought to go and attempt to get my pilots’ license.’ So I began working in the direction of that, and my youngsters noticed me studying textbooks, making be aware playing cards, finding out for sensible exams, written exams. So I felt like I used to be setting instance for them, and so they’ve undoubtedly obtained into studying.

Gracie’s attempting to learn, so I simply catch her off attempting to learn typically after I’m studying and stuff. So yeah, it’s simply type of displaying you is usually a lifelong learner. You may all the time be studying. I type of thought, ‘Nicely, at 33, am I too outdated to go soar into attempting to grow to be a pilot or be taught and stuff like that?’ And like, ‘Yeah, this appears type of older to be taught that.’ However after I began doing it, pilots are typically older. Everybody I used to be speaking to, they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s nice to see a younger pilot in right here and coming in right here.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, effectively perhaps I shouldn’t overthink this. Possibly I’m on the proper age to chase turning into a non-public pilot, or perhaps a industrial pilot.’

So that you simply by no means know. Simply take an opportunity and go for stuff typically.”

With the teachings of season 12 beneath his belt, Lance will head again to his household to share their love of studying.