Yesterday I was re-reading my race report from Vineman 70.3 – my first half-Iron race last July (Boise will be my 2nd).
It’s funny how much perspectives change with time. I don’t even remember wanting to quit triathlon - much less repeatedly - during the run! I was so happy just to finish and pleased with my time – I have speedy friends now and it doesn’t feel so fast! My goals mostly involved surviving, with a nebulous overall time goal attached – next week I have more specific goals for each leg (I’d like to improve my swim time, I’d like to run the entire run leg instead of walking, etc) but the idea is the same:
Survive, learn, and try to have fun.
Really, isn’t that sort of what we’re all after, to some extent?
Of course there will be moments in this process that are not fun and moments that hurt. I just hope I still connect getting through those tough times with the joy of what I’m seeing my body become capable of. (Kind of a “hurts so good” thought process)
1 week to go, and the beers are starting to look irresistible. I actually lost track of what Jeff was saying last night, I was staring at his beverage so lustfully.
7 comments:
You are right about how our perspective change over time. You will do great next week. Can't wait to see you at CDA :)
You are going to do fabulous. And you more than anyone I know is always able to keep such a great perspective, even while in pain. As far as I'm concerned if you can tolerate those sports massages than this should be nothing!
I wish I could be there to give you your first beer post race, but I'll be toasting you from CA.
There you go - survive, learn, and have fun. Well spoken and I couldn't say it better myself.
I agree - looking at old race reports is interesting! Keep up the no beer thing! Nate is JUST going out to buy some and asked if I needed anything. I looked at him and said "Soda water. Perrier. The yuppiest soda water you can find. With lemon."
Take that beer!
I can tell you, if you do a sprint, it just hurts all the time... but that too is a character building process :-) It becomes part of who we are...
The beer is still good. And still will be when you are ready... Steady the course...
The phases of training and the phases of race day are fascinating. Enjoy each moment, it's an adventure worth having! Best to you on race day.
I will be at Boise being support crew so I will be out on the course cheering for you. Good Luck you will do great!
Best of luck to you, Molly! Funny, I just wrote a post of keeping things fun and that was following having a good race. Still, I think it's true whether one has a tough race or one that goes better than expected. Survive, learn, have fun -- words to race and live by!
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