Category: Mental Training

My Missing Mojo

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Last Thursday, I was into the first few moments of a series of power-targeted intervals on the bike, and I could feel it. On Sunday, in the last two miles of a trail run, my legs kicked into high gear for some of the fastest miles I’ve run in a while, and I knew it was with me. Just two strokes into Monday’s swim, and there it was. My mojo. My magnificant, move-me-up-mountains mojo. It’s mojolicious. Okay, you get the point. Alright, one more time… *  *  M  O  J  O   *  * I like to keep my thoughts …

The language of can

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I grew up in a household of caution. My parents were loving and supportive, but they were cautious and quite often very fearful of doing anything that was too far outside of their comfort zone. As a result, I spent much of my childhood and young adulthood setting safe goals, avoiding anything that was too far outside of my comfort zone. My parents didn’t discourage me, but they often talked in the language of “cannot,” rather than the language of “can.  I learned at a young age to be fearful of goals that seemed outside of what was “normal.” Then, …

Is your performance anxiety slowing you down?

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As I stood on the beach, awaiting the start of Ironman Mont Tremblant, I was filled with nervous anxiety–more than I had ever felt before. I was about to race – truly race – this Ironman. While I put forth a good effort in my previous two ironmans, I cannot say honestly that I worked to the upper limit of my edge. I cannot say honestly that I raced them. I was filled with fear that I wouldn’t be able to hit my targets, that I would find out that I’m really not the athlete I want to be – that I thought I was. …

There is no magic on race day

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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act. But a habit.” (Will Durant) Last weekend, John and I traveled to Lake Placid to watch and volunteer at the second oldest Ironman in North America. So, you know what that means… Yup, I’m doing IMLP again. Third time is a charm. Back to where my love affair with the 140.6 began, and (hopefully) back to where I will take my long course racing to the next level. After I successfully registered for the 2013 race (which was no small feat considering I left my ID at home), …

No matter how big, how old, or how skilled: Your body is amazing

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If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, then you probably know that I have struggled with body image and disordered eating. You may also have figured out that endurance sport (both distance running and triathlon) has helped me to appreciate my body for what it can do.  For the most part, I’ve learned I don’t have to look like the tall, thin women on the covers of magazines. (Yes, there are times I catch myself poking and pinching my body, wishing it was different. I imagine that will always be the case for me.) Despite my misgivings …

I can’t control it, so I better get busy doing it

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It makes no sense to worry about things you have no control over because there’s nothing you can do about them. The activity of worrying keeps you immobilized. ~ Wayne Dyer I like to be in control – of decisions, of events, of consequences, of my life. I’m a triathlete and a college professor. The addition of the word “control freak” to this list seems redundant, doesn’t it? In the past few weeks, I’ve learned some tough lessons about control. In sum: I have very little control. Therefore, I need to stop worrying about controlling things, and just get busy doing …

Execution Day

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“I think my right knee and foot is broken,” I said to John. He shot me a look of doubt. It’s race week. On Sunday, May 6th, I’ll be doing my tri-season opening at the Bassman half iron distance triathlon, a local affair in Bass River State Park. And, as is typical of most race weeks, I experience these odd phantom pains in various places throughout my body: knees, shoulders, quads, calves, back – you name it. I stress and fuss–without cause–that I’m “injured,” and it will ruin my race. I know I’m not the only one that gets these …