Timberman 70.3 was my 1st race ever working with
coach Jorge, and it was the first time I went sub 5 in a 70.3. It was actually
my first 70.3 on a tri bike (his tri bike because I didn’t have my own and he
was nice enough to let me use his). Little did he know, I had marked my
territory ;), became addicted to Felt, and that’s how “Fireball” came around.
Fast forward 3 years later, and in just 5 short days, I will
be toeing the start line of that same course ready to rock!
I will be ready to swim like a shark is chasing me
Or maybe I'll be the one chasing the shark? ;)
Bike like my “Fireball” knows how!
Just keep moving ;)
Due to it’s close proximity to my home, I have trained on
the course! I have swam, biked, and ran the Timberman course in the last few
weeks many times, and it is pretty safe I know every pothole, turn, uphill,
downhill that will get thrown my way. I have biked the course with Fireball being
race ready and I have ran on the course more than I can count one hand.
Sure, I have goals, few time goals, and quite honestly the
possibilities are a little bit “scary” but also very realistic! I have worked
my butt off and have been consistent. Day in, day out, week after week, month
after month, and year after year. The
last 5ish weeks have in my eyes have been “special”. I had good days, I had
great days, I thought I couldn’t, but yet I always surprised myself, and with
each week I have been feeling physically and mentally stronger. And then there were the “bad” days - the days
when it didn’t come easy. The days when I had to mentally dig deep to make it happen,
and the DAY when it just didn’t happen.
THAT was the day that opened my eyes. See, sometimes it’s
really easy to get caught up in the numbers. That day, when I struggled through
the 2nd half of the workout really unable to complete it the way I knew I could left me looking deeper and
searching for the “why”, “how”, “when” etc.
I struggled within my own head. The next swim workout after that was not
pretty either. As a matter of fact, it was worse than the one I wrote about. I
mentally didn't have it. I had no fight in me, and I gave in. I gave in to
those loud voices in my head. I so
quickly forgot about the weeks and months of great training, and continuous
improvement because I felt slow that day. The numbers got the best of me! Thankfully
I have great coaches, and friends who talked a bit of “sense” into me.
And then I came across this quote:
"If you want to be
your best, spend a lot of time exploring what is more than enough. Push
yourself right off the edge of your capacity."
Aaaaand, the light bulb went off.
I really let numbers get
the best of me which is so easy when very specific goals are involved. What I
am really trying to get to (and I know it’s taking way too long) is that
sometimes it’s important to take a step back and realize WHY we do what we
do. For me personally, I am competitive –
always have been and always will be. I
have short term goals. I have long term goals. At Timberman, I want to win and
I want to qualify for 70.3 worlds next year, but none of that is going to happen
if I just chase numbers.
Those few workouts when I struggled really opened up my
eyes, and made me realize, that I need to “forget” about the numbers a little
bit. I need to just go out there and have fun, because that is really why I
do this – it is FUN! It is FUN to watch myself grow as an athlete and person
whether it be physically or emotionally, while along the way hopefully motivating
some of you too because YES – anything is possible if you just want it bad
enough.
The day after I took a step back and stopped chasing paces
or watts, I had the best workout I have ever had. It so happened to be on the
Timberman course itself, and it gave me a huge level of confidence going into
Sunday’s race.
No, I will not bore you with graphs, fitness curves, or
paces or watts, but I can tell you that I cannot wait to race! I feel more
ready to race than I ever have before, and I am ready to have a blast! Whatever
happens happens, but I know one thing – I will leave it all out there … in that
water, on that bike or the run course, and I’ll cross the finish line having no regrets! I am going to relax and I'll let my training take me through the day. I am
ready for some FUN, and I am ready to RACE my heart out. I am ready to WIN! (And I really want some maple syrup ;) )
Who else is excited for this weekend?
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