Mike Tarrolly – Co-Host of the Crushing Iron Podcast
Yoga instructors often say “stay with it” while students are in the pose. Or even, find your spot and lean into it. I love using analogy, and finding relevant moments to practice things like that and tonight’s plunge offered an opportunity.
When racing Ironman, I truly believe self-talk can be a massive advantage if you have your mind right. There’s something powerful about “one more mile” or “one more buoy.”
That approach helps keep you in the moment and if you can do that, the next moment might shift to your advantage.
While plunging tonight, out of nowhere, it started to pour. The rain was cold, the wind was loud and I saw a few lightning flashes in the distance. My first impulse was to run out of the water, but I stayed, and leaned into it. Putting extra emphasis on my breath and finding comfort as the cold rain pelted my neck and face.
When racing, it’s easy to react to impulses but it’s usually better to let things play out. Be deeply in the moment and know that in the end it’s going to be okay. There’s a reason people say, “take a deep breath.”
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