I have seen improvements in my swim and bike. My run and nutrition will not improve until I get the mental game right. The mental game impacts all the elements of this sport.. and for that matter...of my life.
On Saturday, I was suppose to do a 60 mile bike ride. I got up that morning, had a good breakfast and was at the trail bright and early. I was determined to accomplish this distance. Beth got to the trail and we were off. This was a important workout for Beth as well. She wanted to see how she felt after 60 miles to determine if she should attempt doing a half ironman race next weekend.
The first 15 miles were fantastic. I rode fast and hard and was loving the morning air. We got to the Horse Park at mile 15 and I was doing well. We grabbed some water, downed a gel and off we went. Mile 20 ...fine. Mile 25....doing ok...but starting to feel fatigue. Mile 30..back at the car and I am determined not to quit. I decided to do a couple of 5 mile out and back rides to make the workout a little different. This was a mistake. In those miles from mile 30 to 35, my mental game was off. I just wanted to go home. It is in this time that I have to push through and get focused. We got to Winter Garden and I was truly done. Beth headed to mile six to get a hill repeat in and I waited. In this time I was just so fatigued and I am not sure if it was true body fatigue, laziness or mentally I just wasn't in the game. We returned to mile 0 and 40 miles were done. I almost racked my bike at this point and called it a day but Beth explained to me that it is in these times that you have to push through. Even if I just did two more miles, it would mentally help me down the road. We did 5 more for a total of 45. As I drove home, I was angry at myself. Why am I not mentally tough enough to do this. Am I scared of the pain of the extended miles?? Am I just too lazy to get this done??
They say Ironman training is a journey...and after this workout I have to agree. You learn alot about yourself in these low points. I think this is where you learn how to be tough and what works to keep you going. Today (Sunday) I did a 2 hour run workout and I was focused. It was a totally sunny day and very warm but I pushed through and did the full two hours. Running is the hardest for me but I was determined not to have another workout like Saturday.
The mental game needs an overhaul!
