Lately, with <5mo to go til IMWA, there are days when I wonder WTF am I doing this for? I have a colour print of the IMWA website above my desk which helps me think about the big goal, and why it’s important to me… I have a 1/2IM in Aug I’m really looking forward to, that should help break up the training calendar… and I love to race…but what other tricks have y’all tried to keep yourself motivated thru the long slog of training, esp. when you still have so long til race day?
AP
race. even small races pump me up and keep me going…because it feeds the mind on potential.
the 1/2 is great–that will get you to your big race day. is there a smaller race you could do this month? just to get you to the 1/2? a time trial? a 10K? anything?
Probably could do a sprint or an oly… at least I can recover from those pretty easily and keep trucking with the training. I was doing some cycle racing (crits) but the races are on the same nights as my bricks (I have pretty limited time to train so it’s pretty regimented).
AP
well, what about skipping a brick and doing a crit one time?
doing a brick isn’t going to do anything for you if mentally you’re out of the game. a crit with an oly would probably do wonders for your spirit and keep your passion going.
Just make sure you tell your coach first 
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You guys better check with your coaches before you alter your workouts or race an unscheduled race:))))))))))))
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Watch a video of Ironman, especially the Emmy nominated coverage of Hawaii.
We play those all day long in the bike shop. Sometimes I walk out onto the sales floor and am just amazed by the imagery. I’ve seen these a million times, but I never fail to be amazed by them. The image of these people in the heat- of how fit they are, how pure the effort is- it is among the most precious things in existence, and someting every competitor shares. In all of life, to have this kind of fitness and the opportunity to do an event like this, it is the highest luxury, the greatest privlege.
Watch a video of Ironman. They are pretty inspirational. Good luck in your preparation and be careful out there.
Two motivators:
food
the thought that my competition is training today
“Watch a video of Ironman, especially the Emmy nominated coverage of Hawaii.”
This is exactly right. After viewing that, I’m ready to kick some ass. Those tapes even help me in my quest to drop my last 25 pounds … I think to myself, I REALLY want to do that some day.
In all of life, to have this kind of fitness and the opportunity to do an event like this, it is the highest luxury, the greatest privlege.
Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream…
Schedule time trials every so often, 10K run, 40K bike, 1000y swim. Or go by time.
Do a smaller race. Not sure about your area, but I can do solo races from the YMCA (swim at the Y, ride from the Y and back, run from the Y and back), and do a sprint, solo, or 1/2IM race anytime I want. I’m doing an oly next weekend.
This year I’ve been doing “oddball” courses. Instead of doing the same old course every week, particularly on those long rides, drive an hour away and do something different. It also seems to “keep me going” if these course are particularly challenging.
~Matt
You want to really get motivated? Volunteer at the end of a marathon. Watch the faces of people finishing something like that for the first time. Watch the raw emotion.
If that doesn’t get your soul stirred for what you’re trying to accomplish, try reading a book called “Becoming and Ironman.” Excellent read.
Race. Racing is why we do this. Training is what allows us to suck less come race day. 
I’ll be racing in Abbotsford next month if you want to run me down.
BBQ - check your PM’s.
Good point. Hopefully with TdF starting that will help in the meantime ;-).
As for racing, I dunno, I’ll keep the crit in mind for those days when I can’t mentally stomach the idea of another brick. Or the TT idea, tha’s a good one too.
The public nudity thread.
Hey Khai,
I was planning on doing that race but everyone that I know that lives out that way would never in dip a toe in that lake. It is supposed to be pretty smelly and stinky. I hope it is better than what they say.
Good luck.
As for the motivation. Tape all of the TT stages and the mountain stages of the tour. I watch them over and over again in the winter on the trainer. Also the finish of course.
Motivation has been a big part of my problem this year. Still have not done a swim yet. My next door neighbor, I just found out is a triathlete and finish second at Crescent Beach last week. That should be some motivation as I can hang with him on the bike for about 2 hours but running and swimming he will kill me. I think we might go for a swim at Sasamat on Saturday morning.
I was planning on doing that race but everyone that I know that lives out that way would never in dip a toe in that lake. It is supposed to be pretty smelly and stinky.
Gee, that’s EXACTLY what I want to hear, thanks! I hope its a huge exaggeration. Then again, I swam in Lake Ontario as a kid, so how bad can it be?
No, dood, you don’t want to swim there. Do a different race if you haven’t already reg’d, like Squamish, sweet sweet swim and ride…
How was your swim today, btw?