We Don't Train So the Race Isn't Hard; We Train So We Can Push Through WHEN it Gets Hard
It’s story time!
I want to tell you about my friend, Ryan.
We met on Tik Tok (never thought I would say that) about a week before his first 70.3 triathlon. He sent me a message asking if I thought he could read my new book- The Complete Guide to Your First (or Best) 70.3 Triathlon in one week…
I told him yes, but with this *caveat.
Ryan reached out after his race. Not only did he finish his first half-Ironman at Washington Tri-Cities 70.3, he persevered through a very challenging day with style!
What he wrote warmed my heart and affirmed why I wanted to write this book in the first place.
“My race went as well as it could have, given the circumstances, and a big part of that was your book, especially this quote.”
We don’t train so the race isn’t hard. We train so we can persevere when the race gets hard.
“Temps in the low 60s, 3 hours of pouring rain, and 20+ mph headwinds made the bike course much more difficult than I expected and forced me to quickly throw out any expectations I had about pace.
Shortly after I finished the bike, the sun came out, temps rose, and the wind died down making for a hot and humid run course. Overall, the race was a brutal challenge that was as much mental as it was physical.”
But it’s what he said next that really stuck with me.
“This race was defined by managing expectations, persevering in the face of adversity, and controlling the controllables… I’m looking forward to digging into the other chapters of the book as I look forward to training for my next race!”
I LOVE this, because it’s exactly the mindset you need to excel in long-course triathlon. Most athletes focus on splits, paces, and finisher’s times (and that’s fine) but what’s easy to forget is that a triathlon is an endurance challenge.
Some athletes do it fast, some do it slow, some do it somewhere in between. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of “speed” (and I say speed, because that’s different than “performance”) there will always be someone faster than you, and there will always be someone slower than you. Speed is relative. It doesn’t make you a better athlete, a stronger athlete, or a more worthy athlete.
Triathlon is about endurance. But what is endurance?
Endurance is perseverance through hardship, overcoming obstacles, active commitment, and focused discipline.
The skills Ryan talks about (managing expectations, persevering in the face of adversity, and controlling the controllables) are in Chapter 12: The Champions Mindset.
Grab your copy of The Complete Guide to Your First (or Best) 70.3 Triathlon here.
Although Ryan’s first 70.3 sounded like a particularly brutal day, it’s actually a good thing that it happened at his first long-course triathlon. Now, he knows what he’s capable of in adverse weather conditions.
Every time you face an obstacle in training, or on race day, and you’re able to face it head on, make good decisions, and persevere, you gain mental strength. You gain confidence in your ability to push through, no matter the circumstances.
After doing nine 70.3 triathlon and 2 full Ironman, I’ve learned pretty quickly that a perfect training block doesn’t automatically equal race day success. Also, encountering challenges in training or obstacles on race day doesn’t necessarily lead to a poor result.
When you can approach a race as a challenge, instead of a test, you can let go of expectations and be curious about pushing your limits. This is what leads to breakthrough performances and more enjoyment in the sport!
Ryan is also a member of the Triple Threat Life Club! If you want to join the Club and get 25% off the new book and future offerings, access to monthly expert webinars, FREE Triathlon Foundations e-book, and discounts for over a dozen premium brands, members-only articles, guides, and videos, sign up today.
Podcast Chat with Campfire Endurance! 🏕️
I was on a podcast with my friend, Chris Bagg, who is a former pro triathlete-turned head coach of Campfire Endurance! He’s a great writer in his own right and loves sharing knowledge about triathlon, almost as much as me.
Check out the awesome How-To section on his website with all kinds of great articles. At the bottom of the page, you can sign up for his newsletter (which I really enjoy).
In this episode, we talk about The Complete Guide to Your First (or Best) 70.3 and topics like:
Most common mistakes athletes make in a 70.3
What causes nutrition mishaps and pacing errors
Mental game necessary for triathlon success
Difference between racing as a test, versus a challenge
Why learning to race by feel is a crucial skill to use alongside objective data
My own most embarrassing triathlon moments and my proudest!
Check it out on The Infirmary on Apple Podcasts, or watch the YouTube version here.
Also, I learned that I titled the book incorrectly… Apparently, it should be The Complete Guide to Your BEST 70.3 Triathlon, since it’s a “brisk, indispensable guide to your next 70.3 triathlon, regardless of whether it’s your first or fifth… and will instantly make you a better triathlete.” LOL. Thanks Chris!
Grab your copy of the book here. Also, the paperback and Kindle version is now available on Amazon.