Mom would only be partially proud...

My mom is a mom through and through.  She’s proud, loving, supportive, and encouraging.  But she can also occasionally get concerned for my well-being when it comes to athletic endeavors.  I guess it comes naturally as, over the years, she has watched me take a few spills over the hurdles and stagger or limp across finish lines.  She asked one day, “Do you know how to race smartly, listen to your body, and say “stop” before it’s too late?”  I’ve had a few not-so-great instances where I’ve pushed too hard. I'd like to think I’ve learned from them so I responded that of course I knew how to race smartly.  Yet this winter/early spring, I actually wondered whether I did.  

Running in a trail race over the winter, I rolled one of my ankles numerous times.  Twice I actually fell from the twists.  As I was on the ground contemplating what to do after the 2^nd time, I decided, “If I wince when I stand up, I’m done.  If I can continue to run, I will slow down and run carefully because this race isn’t worth risking my whole triathlon race season.”  I stood, shook it out, and was able to continue on, albeit at a slower and more cautious pace.  I was proud of myself for thinking with my head and not going on pride, until… About a ½ mile from the finish, I rolled the other ankle bad enough that it took me a few seconds to catch my breath from the sudden pain.  At that point, because I had to get out of the woods anyway, I figured I'd finish so I hobbled to the finish, conceding 1^st place in the process.  In the end, I had minor sprains to both ankles, both of which have healed nicely.  However, on further reflection, I realized that honestly, maybe I don’t know how to run as smartly as I thought I did.  My mom would be proud that I at least entertained the thought of dropping out and not worrying about the DNF.  But given that I wasn’t smart enough to stop and that I put myself at risk for a more serious injury which could have blown a portion of or all of the summer race season, she wouldn’t be proud.  So I guess that I can say that I only made her partially proud but learned that maybe I don’t know how to race as smart as I thought.  Upon reflection, what I've really learned is that with respect to training, racing, and life in general, is I have a new standard I should really measure myself against, "Would my mom be proud that I persevered?” 

Thank you TorHans

Earlier in the spring, I was fortunate enough to get connected with the owners/founders of Tor Hans.  Tor Hans developed the innovative and aerodynamic Aero30 water bottle.  In a time when athletes are trying to outfit their bikes with the fastest, lightest, and highest quality components, the Tor Hans products are a great addition to the market.  Tor Hans has spent significant time in the wind tunnel developing and refining their Aero30 bottle (and the latest, the Aero20 bottle).  I found it pretty amazing and impressive to learn about all of their wind tunnel testing and product refinements as a result of the time they spent in the tunnel.  And Tor Hans doesn't just test their product; they put their bottles right up against other competitors for direct comparative results.  Maybe a bit windblown, but they came out lowest on the charts with respect to the bottles’ drag created on the bike. 

                I was finally able to road test my new bottle during a sprint duathlon two weeks ago. (With the cold and wet weather we’ve been having out east, the most I’d been able to do since receiving my bottle was use it for hydration while on the trainer.)  While the bottle was larger than what I needed for my sprint race, it was still important for me to try it out in race conditions before my first big race of the season in May.  My thoughts…it was great!  Both the mount and bottle in the mount were stable.  My prior bottle frequently moved around within the mount and the mount itself moved around so it was great to not have to fiddle with or think about the bottle while riding.  While I did experience splashing from the bottle, the roads I was racing on were less than ideal.  (In fact, volunteers were more focused on pointing out craters in the road than the 90 degree turn at the bottom of a steep hill.)  I wasn’t discouraged by the splashing since some amount is to be expected from a bottle that permits easy refilling while riding.  I’ve also been told by the guys at TorHans that they’ve slightly redesigned the cap to further reduce the spillage.

                TorHans is exceptionally proactive in developing and refining new and existing products to produce the highest quality and most aero products.  The owners, being athletes themselves, want quality, useful, and fast products.  They want users to go out and do what they enjoy – ride and race and not be concerned with their equipment.  I have race wheels and a race helmet that are all designed to reduce drag, it only makes sense that I put that much attention into my hydration system, since it's just as important of a component to a successful race!
http://www.torhans.com/

Personal Expectations

When I started thinking about my 2011 race season in the late fall 2010, I felt a great amount of uncertainty. Why?  Because I felt my own personal expectations and goals should be higher and grander.  My 2011 season would be my first whole season as a Professional Triathlete and with that came thoughts that suddenly my expectations and racing should step up to a new level.  With that brought a sense of apprehension, a little fear, and many "what ifs".  "What if I just can't keep up? What if I fail?"  I think it's these lingering thoughts that held me back a little in developing true goals for this year.

Mentally committing, back in January, to making Ironman Texas my first big race of the season, I realized I needed to finally deal with the lingering uncertainties, and quickly.  And training for an Ironman has given me the perfect opportunity to try to quiet my mind...there's nothing but time to think while spending hours riding and running.  What's occurred to me is that despite "going professional" late last year, nothing has really changed for me.  While I want to race hard and be as competitive as possible, a new title doesn't somehow mean I'll be able to compete differently.  I'm still the same person.  I still have a full-time job and family with which I need to balance my training around.  So while I think it's okay to want more, will strive to race well, and will push myself in training, I think I cannot mentally expect that I'll race differently.  Those "what if" questions are really just my own voices.  My family and friends are not expecting some greater achievement from me this year; they haven't set higher and grander expectations and I'm won't be letting them down.  They are incredibly supportive of me no matter the race results.  
 
I've also realized that for this race season, the racing will be different and as such, I should be setting and reaching towards a different kind of goal(s).  I think time goals and keeping mental focus/drive all the way through the finish line this year will be as big to me this year as "what place I finished" has been in the past.  I can't say for certain that all of my lingering doubts are gone and won't resurface in tough times, but I think the important thing for me to regularly remind myself is that, "My friends and family love and support me regardless of how I race. They don't hold expectations of me. I race for the fun and joy of it and I'm the only one who has expectations of myself."  I'll set goals for myself but there's no need to set an unreasonable level of expectations for myself.