Peaks and Valleys

I often experience many highs during an entire Ironman season. However, with those highs, I have a number of lows. In an Ironman race, athletes will undoubtedly have a low point during competition, and most likely throughout a training season, athletes will also experience times that are tough. Whether motivation is lower or the body is exhausted, Ironman athletes will go through periods during training that force you to question your commitment to the sport. Matter of fact, if an athlete does not experience these low points during training; they are probably not pushing their bodies enough. The true way to find out about your level of success is to push your body beyond what you may think it can physically and mentally handle. Once you have found that point, an athlete can learn a lot about themselves as they push through the low points of training. This season, I have experienced a few low points during training, times when I ask myself why I am so dedicated to something that has no real monetary gain. I mean, should I get a second job instead of training to put more food on the table. Inevitably, these low points don’t last very long, and before I can start thinking about sleeping in or eating an entire plate of nachos, I get right back on the bus with a good workout. So, next time you’re in a bad place, work through it. Throughout an entire training season you can learn from these bad times, make adjustments, and be a better athlete for it. All for now.

SJI