I’m not gonna Lie . . .
Sometimes I just don’t know what to write anymore because I feel like it’s all been said. So many words these days.
Everything, and all of this always seems to come back to one thing for me: Be in the moment.
Ah, yes, you say! Be in the moment . . . simple enough!
Nope.
It’s truly the hardest thing to do but, really the only thing we need to do.
We hang our hat on the ability to multi-task when all it does is give us mediocre shit. Half-assed projects, conversations, and yes, workouts.
I’ll talk about workouts in a minute, but first, I want to think about some of the greatest things ever created by human beings. All of the great art, books, sporting performances. Do you think those people were thinking about other things while they built masterpieces for humanity?
One of my favorite others, Charles Bukowski, used a phrase, “Don’t Try” and I’ve always loved that. My interpretation has always been, Don’t Try to be someone you’re not. But it can also mean Don’t Try to think.
As long as an Ironman can be, I find it fascinating when people say “it went by so quick.” It’s likely because Ironman really forces you to be in the moment. Your thoughts can drift, but it’s almost impossible to go too far away from feeling your body.
It’s all about the breath. When we’re in tune with the breath the body seems to take care of things on its own.
I’ve been training with a mantra to help me find my rhythm and breath. I started using it in the swim, but have brought it on board the bike and run, too. Sometimes it goes away and I’m sure the many sights and sounds in Madison will do that, but it’s all about coming back to being grounded. Over and over and over. Keep turning that stroke, spinning that bike, lifting those legs.
Did you ever play the game “light as a feather” when you were kids? It was sort of this creepy game where you chanted that phrase while someone laid on their back then four others (two on each side) would pick the person up using just two fingers. I swear it worked!
That’s my thought process… Think light moving into the weekend. Get to that place where I don’t feel like I’m carrying my body as much as floating through the water, wind, and space.