Mental Training

Mental training has been the topic of conversation lately. I had a great year of racing in 2007 with many PRs. But, I finished the season on a downward slope culminating with an unsuccessful marathon. Okay, I bombed it. So, I scoured every training log I had trying to find the answer. Out of shape? Bad nutrition? Burned out? Too many marathons this year?

Several friends have said to me it was my mind...the mental aspect of my racing. I was indeed in very good shape and ready to run well. I did run well, too, until I (wince) quit the race. Well, I didn't quit literally, but I quit racing. I lost focus. I "checked out" of the race. Was I burned out from racing, hungry, cramping, and miserable? Yes, indeed. There were quite a few things that seemed to go wrong for me that day. But, if I toe up to the line, I better be able to battle through it from start to finish. Sometimes I stop caring in a race...I just want to finish and don't care if I am running well or giving everything I can.

Well, I have to care about this because I am doing IMF this year. I can't check out, or lose focus, or give up, or gulp...quit mentally. So, there is swim, bike, run, nutrition, and mental. Don't neglect the mental.

Yesterday I went on a solo bike ride for 33 miles. This is something I don't enjoy, mainly because I hate Memphis traffic. But, I did it...and reminded myself that mental training is also about doing the work when you don't want to.

So, 2008 is going to be a time to put positive training and thoughts into our bodies and minds.

Here are some quotes for the day:
- "Winning is coming in fourth, exhausted and encouraged-because last time you came in fifth."
- "Winning is habit forming. (So is losing.)"
- "The fact that we, literally, become what we think about most of the time."