Ironman Is Only One Day

Oneday

My “Countdown Meter” says 26 days, 19 hours, and 56 minutes.  That can only mean one thing . . . Ironman Louisville is coming fast.

It also means, four Mondays from now I will have quite a different feeling in my body . . . and mind.  Or will I?

If all goes as planned, I will have just covered 140.6 miles under a hot Louisville sun.  I will have pushed myself to the limit and achieved something most never dream of, and . . . it will be over.

What happens the day before four Mondays from now will be directly related to how I handle the time between today and the race.  The most important thing I can work on is . . . confidence.

Without faith, we are sunk.

There are many ways you can drum up belief in yourself, but for me, the best way is Nike’s model:  Just Do It.

For the next 26 days, 19 hours, and 52 minutes I will be squeezing out doubt.  Not by force, but by fueling my brain with stuff that builds confidence.

I will celebrate the victories and not dwell on the defeats.  I will expect challenges and figure out plans to conquer them.  I will face pain with courage and know that it doesn’t last forever.

Ironman is one day.

One day when we have no choice but to live in the moment and trust the accumulation of hours, days, and months of work.  The effort on that day is all that matters and whatever effort I can summons, is enough.

More than anything, I want to go into that race clear.  Free from distraction.  Unobstructed by doubt.  Ready to flow with what is.

And what is will be millions of mini-moments that happen whether we want them to or not.  There is no more room for fear, worry, or doubt.

I will be there, and technically there is no different than here.

 

Today You Have A Chance To Be Great

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A coaching friend of mine has always seemed to connect to endurance training on a different level.  It’s a more inclusive approach that goes beyond assigning workouts and mileage.  I’ve recently asked him to contribute to Crushing Iron with a regular voice that will surely motivate and inspire with simple, yet powerful concepts that resonate on a more integral level.  Below is the first edition of Crushing Iron Coach’s Corner. 

Coaches Corner: Today You Have A Chance To Be Great

In a world where we obsess and over-analyze our past races, or races a year away, the biggest casualty is today.  And today is your chance to be great.

Giving our best right now isn’t nearly as glamorous as “talking” about an event we haven’t completed, but it’s how we get there.  What is attractive is what happens when you put days, weeks and months of “today’s” together.

Do your best today.  Then forget about it and be your best tomorrow.  Repeat and stay present.  That’s where improvement lies.

percy priest lake