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My Last Race Report
The "trouble" with most race reports is that they are all the same, we talk about the challenges and work in plugs for our sponsors. I'll try to offer something of value here! +++ Before I get into the report. I'd like to congratulate Mimi Winsberg for qualifying at Kona this past weekend. Mimi's been training with us since our St George Camp, last November, and is preparing for Ironman St G in May. As a team, we all had great races but Mimi's race was something special. Well Done! Applications are now open for our Tour of Utah in September -- it's appropriate for cyclists and triathletes. Sign up now and we'll offer you a 25% discount on putting together a training plan (Bike Only, or Triathlon) to prepare yourself. As we age, I know that many of my buddies are more focused on prepping for cycling camps than races. We want to train with you and cater to all abilities. I've been racing well for more than a decade. Someday I'll be gone so I want you to remember these points: Quitting is Worse I felt like quitting a few times last Saturday but I didn't. When I feel like quitting, I take a minute (or four), regroup and keep going. ALL my best runs have followed some form of setback earlier in the race. Crisis creates the opportunity for breakthrough success. Having this business, and helping to coach our team is part of my "no quit" strategy. Create a peer group around yourself to support the person you want to be. I host training camps because they force me to get out of bed and front up! The irony of asking myself "what would I do" while racing amuses me. I spent the last two hours on Saturday with an internal chant of "be the brand" rolling in my head. What's your brand? +++ My Results Read the above again as it is an essential element of success. Our performances decline when we are no longer willing to do the work required for success, and that happens a lot earlier than the ravages of time. When your motivation sags, your mind will come up with excuses for why you don't have to train the way you did when you were ascending the ranks. Having spent my winter with a group of top athletes in Noosa - I was reminded that, yes, I really did train that hard. Time tends to fade the fanatical devotion that is required to get to the top of a field. Our results just happen -- good/bad/whatever -- we control our preparation and execution, outcome is out of our hands. I can't do anything about the speed that I go at a race -- short of taking off my aerobars and going old-school! If you desire the result then you need to be willing to outwork your competition until they leave the playing field. Put plainly, your best case scenario is pulling back a few hundred hours (per year) of the leaders' edge. If the top athletes can stay consistent, and motivated, then they have a durable competitive advantage. This is neither fair, nor unfair. It simply is the way athletic performance works. The good news is that, as my athletic career shows, athletes can rapidly climb the ladder providing they set their lives up to do what's required. +++ Life Pacing I can assure you that there are champions in their 50s that would love to be doing what we take for granted - participating, not dominating! I felt tremendous gratitude for being able to race on Saturday. While you are relentlessly focused on "closing the gap" make sure that you keep an eye on a few older champions. The stars of the 80s/90s can act as a useful reality check on the potential costs of high mileage. Always remember that our peer group is filled with athletes that tolerate extreme training for a couple of years then VANISH from our collective consciousness. The elite athletic lifestyle is not sustainable over the long-term. That's why I'm not racing an Ironman this year - though it was tempting to sign up for one with all those slots floating around in Oceanside! +++ Stay In The Game "Old" elites should put ourselves out there so the athletes have something (someone?) to shoot for. I know that folks get a big kick out of taking down the Ultraman. Besides, I have scores to settle with a few of you and it helps me get out of bed. As an example, I spent the entire winter dragging towels around a 50-meter swimming pool to prepare for a duel with Chris Hauth... ...and he didn't race! ...and Chuck - if it takes me until my sixties to FINALLY out-split you on the bike... ...I want my shot! +++ Do It Anyhow When you put yourself out there and try to be the best athlete, best employee, best mom, best parent that you can be... there will be folks that get uncomfortable and seek to tempt you from your path. Consider all the reasons not to go for it... then do it anyway. You're stuck with yourself for the duration -- the flamers will move along after a week, a month, or a year. Be Great, +++ PS - This week's photo is who you don't want to see heading your way at a run turnaround. Train your stamina to race fast!
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In April, Endurance Corner is going to start publishing daily! Monday to Friday - I've assembled a group of interesting writers to share their experiences and help you achieve your goals.