Race day is almost here. Well prepared. Fabulous team. Fabulous coaches. 1/2 IRONMAN BABY!!!!!
WELL PREPARED
At the beginning of this year, I wrote “QUIETLY CONFIDENT” on the dream board. And here we are.
It won’t come easy though. WELL PREPARED doesn’t guarantee perfection. Things happen. Part of the deal, learning to roll with the punches, doing the best you can with THE PRESENT MOMENT.
I’ve been struggling with anxiety during the swim. And now…exercise/anxiety induced asthma. I have a new understanding for those with asthma. It’s terrible. It leaves you feeling shitty, sometimes like you got hit by a truck. Not to mention the irritation, frustration and just plain anger that comes up because of the limitation that can get a hold of you without your permission. There you are. Wheezing. Feeling nauseous. Struggling for that breathe that you’ve been taking for granted for 38 years.
It really sucks when it happens at the beginning of the swim. You look up and you have ONE MILE of this suckage to get through.
One swim is really hard. One swim goes well. One goes not so well again. One race goes well. One goes BAD. Fear plants itself in your mind. Spreads it’s toxic poison. Makes things worse, gas on the fire. Takes space in your mind. Do you let it take space in your heart?
This is an “in your face” example. Do we let this happen to us on a lesser scale everyday? Taking tiny little detours to miss the piles of fear in the road? Not smile at a stranger because we fear they won’t like us. Not lay down some tough love because we fear…losing something, making a mistake. Not speaking honestly, because we fear letting out real feelings, not being accepted, someone calling “bullshit”?
Whatever is it. Being fear’s bitch…what’s it costing us? Can we learn to go right on through it. However messy it might be in the beginning. It’s bound to get better if we stick.
How to go right on through the piles:
1. Put your boots on. Think positive. KNOW that you can do it.
2. Be AWESOMELY OK with less than perfect.
3. Practice being calm. Breathing deeply.
4. Go looking for that place inside your heart, where resides boundless courage and strength. Dig deep.
5. Get after it.
6. Lastly: KNOW this WILL suck less than last time.
From my heart to yours.
