I’m not racing this morning until 9:25 and we had to be at the race course by 6 for Alan to get ready so I’ve got some time to kill. So I thought I’d relax at Starbucks, with a coffee, and reflect on how I’m feeling before the race.
I spent some time getting myself focused yesterday. My biggest hurdle is getting over the fact that it probably won’t be a wetsuit swim. I know I’m not going to be as fast but I have to remember that no one else will be either.
And I know the heat is going to be nasty but again, it’s going to be nasty for everyone else as well. It’s ok if it affects me, I just need to deal with it better than everyone else and I’ll have an advantage.
Which brings me to an idea I had yesterday when I was trying to focus on the race and do some visualization: making it hurt. I realized/decided that come the race I have complete control over how much it hurts. I can stop at any time or I can push harder. The pain I’ll feel will be a decision I make not an external factor that is out of my hands.
So that means I just have to decide to hurt. And realize that the more it hurts, the faster I’m going and use it to push that much more.
Until I cross the finish line. Then I can relax and cheer Martina on in her first big elite race.
Game on.
