I'm mental and I know it....

In reading one of my followers recent blog posts (Big Daddy Diesel) he was discussing his mind set and what he's gone thru over the past couple of years....and where he's at now.

The mental aspect of this journey is harder, at times, than the actual physical aspect of the race.  I believe that most anyone with some training under their belt can complete an Ironman.....but what will hold most people back (remember....we're the 1% of the world that will do an Ironman....and that's pretty dang cool) is the mental aspect to break thru and make it happen.

I don't know who said it or if I'm even getting it right but a quote that rings true is "Triathlons are 80% mental.  The other 20% is mental".  If I can push the negative thoughts out and take everything, including the race, mile by mile, hour by hour, day by day....then it doesn't seem as bad.

When I get off the bike at IMTX will I have a marathon to complete or will I have 26 one mile jogs with a .2 sprint down the chute?  On the bike, I have a 56 mile ride....a stop to get more nutrition....then another 56 mile ride.  I can do two 56 milers....but can I go 112?

I'm rambling now....but you get it.  It's a mental game.

Which "little guy" will show up on your shoulder to tell you you can or can't do this.  I guarentee they both will....but the one with the pitchfork and devil horns will be SCREAMING at you, while the halo'd one will be chilling and relaxing.  You need to train the one with the halo to get off his ass and talk over the other one.

While all this is what I believe, it's getting pretty damn hard......I cut my swim short last night and only ran 3 (of 5) miles on the dreadmill.  It was 40 last night with 20mph cold winds.  I can't run on a treadmill.  After one mile it feels like I've gone 10.  Legs hurt, sweating profusly, breathing/HR jacked up.....I'm a hot mell on the 'mill.

Tonight is a 3:00 trainer ride.  As of 8:30am, I'm looking forward to it.  Hopefully that stays true at 8:30pm.

Swimming Rocks

But after about a mile it gets boring as all Hell.....

I did 2700m last night.  My lungs felt great, my arms weren't tired, my form was holding up, but Holy Lord....I wanted to quit.  It's not that I wanted to quit because I was tired or having a bad swim (like last Friday) but I was just bored.  Plain ol' bored.....straight up.....like fo' reals.....bored.

I kept trying to visulize the IM course, how I would position myself near the bouy, how to drift after the turnaround toward the right so it cut off some distance entering the canal.....that worked for about 150m.

I guess it's an exercise for the body and the mind.  I'll keep at it. 

Tonight is a 3:30 ride......it's supposed to be storming too.  I love the rain and the thunder and the lightening.  It's relaxing to me.  Just hope the storm pushes in after the ride so I can fall asleep to the sounds of nature.

99 Days

Crap....really?

99 Days until IMTX.  Why does that seem so short?  Why when it was 102 days, it seemed far enough away to get acomplished, but now....3 days later, it seems that it's closing in.  I know that it's mental but still.  It's becoming more real.

Did 1:30 on the trainer last night, followed by 250 sit ups.  This was on top of the 100 sit ups that I did yesterday morning.

This morning, my lovely wife gave me a compliment, very unexpectedly.  She told me that I was starting to look skinnier and that I was starting to get definition.  This led to Magic Mike style dancing and a flexing session in the mirror.  I asked her if it "did anything for her".  While she said no.....I know that she really wanted to jump all over this.  :)

Today is a scheduled off day and Family Movie Night.  Got a recomendation for "Hotel Transylvania" and she seemed good with it.  Guess it's a Redbox night.

Tomorrow was supposed to be a 10 mile run and Sunday was a 30 mile ride.  However, due to the weather that's supposed to push in, I'm going to ride tomorrow morning and fun on Sunday afternoon/night (after the rain pushes out).  Also....we're supposed to go (weather permitting) to Downtown McKinney to watch the Krewe De Barkus....a dog parade and expo.  That should be entertaining.

Have a great weekend followers!


Total crunches (through 2/7):  950