Nearly all of my blogs are long winded race reports that analyse data and reflect upon the highs and lows of the race and it's just dawned on me that as I've withdrawn from my first tri of 2013 next week due to illness, it'll be a while before the next blog! I thought I'd write this little snippet of what goes on in an athlete's mind behind the race scene, particularly my approach to training.
Training is easy when you feel strong. It's easy when you feel fast. Motivation is high when you're winning races and when you're hitting targets. When progression is evident and personal bests are rolling in thick and fast, it's easy to jump onto the bike to clock in the miles that will lead to your next win. Or to jump into your trainers to pound the pavements time and time again. Confidence breeds confidence.
But it's not so easy when you're losing. Or when your form or fitness has gone. Or when you've had a crash on your bike or an illness or injury. Clocking up the miles again can seem painstakingly slow. Paces that you used to do with your eyes closed seem all of a sudden tough again. Strength has gone, enthusiasm has gone, motivation has gone......
........But that's what makes an athlete. Not just achieving goals, but achieving them in the face of adversity. Not just doing well when it feels easy, but doing well when it's not pretty, when it hurts, when it takes something you never thought you had to drag yourself over the finish line or through a training session. It takes guts and determination to keep going, especially when athletes around you seem effortless.
Everyone suffers set backs, it's how you embrace them and fight back stronger that defines who you are.....and I'm hoping I bounce back stronger than before :-)
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