Some Real Talk About Racing
Hey everyone…
The Fall is a busy time for racing, and most of them become A-Races for athletes. It always seems like the hysteria meter is about to blow, so I wanted to ramble about a lot of things I hear and how I think about doing Ironman.
Ninety percent of all issues right now are steeped in self-doubt, and of course I believe confidence is the most important thing in successful racing, so here’s what’s on my mind 17 days out from Ironman Wisconsin.
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Some of you have been here before and know what it feels like at this time of the year. This is your reminder that everything will be fine. We’d all like to train “perfectly” but nobody does that, nor does anyone know exactly what that means.
Training is about pulling the best out of yourself on any given day. It’s about practicing ways to get through things when you’re not feeling 100%. It’s about recognizing that you have been doing a LOT of work, so sometimes the body will feel tired. It doesn’t mean that your race is going to suck.
Racing Ironman (70.3’s included) is a bit of a complicated formula, but I’m here to say (especially if your training is respectable) that most of it is in your mind.
Work on getting negative thoughts out of there. Practice thinking positive and build your confidence. KNOW that you’re going to execute to the best of your ability. Don’t obsess about times. Obsess about understanding how you will adjust and dial in your pace. Obsess about figuring out how to dig deep on the race course.
Your race won’t be easy. It just won’t. I don’t care how long or how hard you’ve trained, it’s all relative and races are hard. If they’re not hard you didn’t give your all.
I’m sure some people think I’m “out there” talking about all this mental stuff, but I truly think it is the key to racing well. Believing in yourself and understanding how much you can give at any point in the race.
There will be ups and downs. How will you get through the rough patches? Will you give in and say you didn’t have it? Or will you regroup and get back after it.
Throughout training we always have recovery weeks, but we also have them within swim, bike and run sessions. Why? Because they work. How are you going to recover within your race if you’re feeling overwhelmed? Figure it out now.
I talk a lot about hitting the integrity of the workout vs. worrying about some 3 or 4 minute instruction in the beginning. Are you concentrating on that, or being strong at the end of a 500 yard swim interval? Are you ramping up your bike or run interval so you can finish strong? Are you easing back a little when you feel a tweak in your knee or are you pushing it harder and aggravating things?
Show yourself some love. If you’re working crazy hours or dealing with personal issues or not sleeping. Respect those things and figure them out first. A good night’s sleep can solve a lot of problems. It’s also better for your body than any workout you will ever be. Do what you need to be healthy.
There are occasions when athletes fall off the radar then come back with a limited time before a race. In those instances we have to get creative and do the best we can. If you’re hitting most of your workouts and genuinely giving good effort, you are in good shape for your race.
Did I mention the race will be painful?
Yes, I did. But I want to remind you of that. How are you going to get through it? I won’t be there to read motivational speeches on the course. I wouldn’t do that anyway. This isn’t your career. You are out here to have fun and challenge yourself. It’s up to you to figure your way out of these things. And training should be giving you many good opportunities to practice that.
Feeling good is the best solution for good racing. The rest is all about the mind.
It’s okay to have a goal, but I suggest having an A, B, and C goal so you don’t throw out the race if you can’t hit your A-Goal. Many people have blown up chasing something that wasn’t realistic, but if you can regroup ON COURSE and slide into your B goal, you will most likely be happy with the result.
For example: I’ve had A goals that were sunk in the swim. It would have taken a literal miracle to hit them, but I shifted perspective on the fly and snuggled into my B goal and everything was fine. I was a bit bummed but generally very happy because I didn’t give up and throw in the towel. For the record, this happens in most races.
For now, set the goal of executing the best you can based on your level of fitness. Don’t be unrealistic, but also don’t fudge the race if you’re feeling better than you thought you would. It’s like the weather. If you don’t like how you feel right now, wait about 20 minutes because it will change.
We all have doubts and questions, but it’s our job to lessen their impact on our minds. There’s nothing worse than doubt going into your race. Respect for the course and the challenge, yes, but doubt, no. Know that you will give it your best and it won’t be perfect. It likely won’t even be how you planned it. You can’t be rigid and you can’t expect everything to go your way. Ironman is indeed a metaphor for life. How will you live it to the best of your ability?