With all the recent taper-induced posts about loss of confidence, crappy training sessions, self-doubt and ‘what the hell am I doing?’ thoughts, let’s not forget about the stuff that keep us coming back year after year…
…standing on the shore of some body of water somewhere, making friendly small talk with folks around you, and then your wave is up next. Going internal now…HRM is picking up its signal, watch is cleared to all zero’s, goggles are comfortably in place and fidgeting with the wetsuit is done. Suddenly, it’s all quiet despite the noise around you. It’s game on…nothing else matters for a while, just the task at hand. This is what you’ve worked and suffered for, and it’s time for the final exam. The time to back out has passed and a sudden calm washes over you…I’m ready…let’s get this thing started.
…treading water with a couple thousand others, waiting for the cannon. You’re in a comfortable spot in the field and your stomach is turning over with nervousness. You think back over all the work you put in just for this day. The TV chopper moves in close and you can feel the reverberations in your chest - now you know it’s for real. No time for second guessing now.
…you’ve just finished off a 20-miler to round out a peak week of training and you’re so friggin’ wrung out that it defies explanation. Words can’t adequately describe the strange combination of fatigue, satisfaction, pain and disbelief. You’ve made it - the rest is gravy.
Feel free to chime in with other stuff that keeps you coming back. For those of you racing soon, remember the sacrifices you’ve made, and make it count.
…you’ve just finished off a 20-miler to round out a peak week of training and you’re so friggin’ wrung out that it defies explanation. Words can’t adequately describe the strange combination of fatigue, satisfaction, pain and disbelief. You’ve made it - the rest is gravy.
Great stuff Mike. Having never done a wave-start race, nor an Ironman, this one really hits home. I get this satisfaction every Sunday afternoon…and that’s what keeps me coming back.
Pulling into the parking lot after 3-4 hours in the heat and sun with woo and katy and the gals and putting the bikes in the truck, going for a short run then cooling off with beers and tacos at Mi Burrito.
Doing a long solo ride out in the country and the occasional wave or head nod to other cyclists and a moo to the cows, then getting home to and email, “Was that you on X Road?”
I also like the last few minutes of an in-water start, looking back on the shore at the crowd.
Doing the swim warmup and feeling like you are flying through the water with no effort at all.
The first open water swim of the season when the water is so cool and clear that you feel you could drink some on every stroke.
A long ride on the tri bike when everything clicks - you pass people like they’re standing still, the miles and hills go by easily, and you come home to find out your average speed was 1+ mph faster than your last ride.
Lying in the grass and shade after a race and letting your body cool down while you talk to friends and munch on post-race food.
Coming off the bike and finding that for once you feel fresh and quick on the first mile of the run.
Having the wife showing much more “interest” in you now that you’ve gotten down to race weight.
Yeah! All great stuff! The more I think about it, it’s all the little things.
The little boost of energy you get from high-fiving the smiling kid you’ve never seen before who’s come out to watch a race and cheer for a bunch of people he’s never met.
Like Cathy said…the quiet of a long ride when it’s just you, the scenery and the smooth hum of a finely tuned drivetrain.
The look of determination on the face of somebody who’s out there clearly giving it their all, regardless of their pace or place in the field.
The exhausted and satisfied smile on the face of someone who’s just accomplished something they weren’t 100% sure that they could do.
The sight of a finish line banner - any race, anywhere - and the realization that you’ve made it.
That super deep tissue massage that hurts like hell and gets EVERY knot out of your legs two days before the race. You know when it hurts this bad, race day is gonna be great!
