[Tri-Tammy]

<p>After doing much soul searching these past few months I've realized that in my desire to be perfect, I don't take challenges and I go for only what I know I can do. But what is perfect and does it even exist?</p>
<p>I think it was way easier to have a definition of perfection on the mound (strikes vs balls), or on the court (free-throws or steals or jump shots), but triathlon seems to be a totally different animal.  I am realizing that there really isn't such a thing as perfetion and that this drive to find it has severely limited me in my workouts and my races. </p>
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<p>So this year my mantra has become- take the challenge, not the easy road.  This may seem simple to some but it's been a huge eye opener for me.  This past Wednesday I had team swim and I was seriously dreading it.  I'm still recovering from bronchitis and all that and it would only be my second time back in the pool.  I stewed about it, got into the car and went.  What happened because I took that challenge?  I led my lane, kept us on pace for the 2,000m workout and when it was all said and done, my teammates called me their fearless leader.  I went home on cloud nine.  I took that challenge, I did not quit, I believed in myself and others believed in me. </p>
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<p>So how about you guys?  What mantra or state of mind do you use? </p>
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[Yo Sake]

Way to go Tammy!!!!!!!!<br><br>
Running and triathlon training and racing have become a normal part of my life and I don't look at them with a fresh set of mind any more. However, an interesting thing to me is, for every marathon training I feel I'm ready to tackle a challenging trainig with a hope I get faster. That hope itself is enough to get me going. even the hope doesn't get materialized, I will come fo face the following marathon training with another hope and strong sense of commitment. I can't say the same thing about triathlon mainly because I haven't made much improvements af swimming and cycling. Of course the off road biking got me going again for the last two seasons.

 

[hobey]

<p>That's my girl. Remember...BELIEVE.</p>
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<p>My mantra these days is PATIENCE. I'm stepping back from competing and taking steps to set up my long term injury-free running life by unlearning six years of bad habits that made me prone to injury and I swear it's worse than watching paint dry. I'm celebrating every victory, no matter how small. It was being able to run 1/2 mile straight with good form last week. I'm letting go of the timetable and those of you who know me, know that is a big challenge for me. And I'm working on my core and fully intend to come out of this rebuilding period stronger and better than before.</p>

 

[SpartyGirl]

<p>Way to go Tammy!</p>
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<p>My mantra this year is perseverance.  Things aren't going the way I expected and for now I need to just put my head down and get through it (and get out of my head!).</p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>My mantra is "preserve tomorrow's workout."  When I'm out there feeling good, I have a tendency to push harder and harder until I find my limit.  Unfortunately, my limit is often an aggravated tendon or ligament and today's one solid workout just blew the next week's worth of workouts.  So now I allow myself to push a bit, but always with the mindset that the most important aspect of today's workout is tomorrow's workout.</p>
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<p>Congrats on the mental breakthrough, Tammy.  I look forward to a similar post from you about the bike.</p>

 

[jenotter]

<p>Good job Tammy!!! And an interesting thread!</p>
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<p>My new mantra is "the journey is everything." I spent a lot of time training and racing over the years, and felt like I'd failed myself if I didn't hit my goal time, especially in marathons. After some soul searching, it finally sunk in that I am who I am as a runner/triathlete, and more important than a specific finish time is the experience of the race - the sights, the sounds, the people. That's not to say that I don't have time goals...just not going to get hung up on them and be utterly disappointed if I don't meet them.</p>
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[Thor]

<p>Tammy, you just had a serious break-through that will no doubt set yourself up for wild personal success. And I don't mean of the PR variety. PR's will come, that's for sure, but what I mean is that you, if you follow this lesson, will set yourself up for such strong confidence and the learned notion that you can do what ever it is you set your mind to. You will see where you had limited yourself in the past, and now you will tackle that which is fun -- which is often that which is outside your comfort zone, where we learn more about ourselves. Good on you, girl! Very proud of you.</p>
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<p>They say that Ironman changes you. You've heard it before. And there it is again. Ironman changes you. This isn't to say that you need to do Ironman in order to learn the lesson. Ironman, and the completion of it and the journey taken, teaches you that you can do what ever it is you decide to do. And it shows you how to do it. You might have just learned that lesson. Because when we challenge ourselves far out of our comfort zone, and when we come through it, we learn that we really can do what ever it is we set our mind to.</p>
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<p>On Wednesday I will sign up for the Canadian Death Race, an 80 mile one day ultra marathon with over 17,000 feet of elevation gain. On the surface I am scared shit less. But you know what? I learned a while back -- during those Ironman days, where I learned to test myself without fear of failure -- that it is not about thinking of running for 24 hours straight up and down mountains in a grueling death match with hell. It is instead about knowing how to be an athlete, doing what I know I can do, and as hobey says, BELIEVE... Believing in myself, in my abilities, in my trouble-shooting smarts... and just doing it!</p>
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<p>The lesson for me is to not to let fear of failure curtail my dreams but instead let that fear motivate me to train as I need.</p>
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<p>As you move forward, think not about outcomes... such as time on clock or placement in race. This is a highly personal sport. It matters not what others are doing but rather what you are doing and if it aligns with your abilities.</p>
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<p>And by the way, you weren't alone in all that you said. I see it in so many people -- nearly all of us, really -- where we limit ourselves for fear of failure, hurt, and a variety of other things. Where you separate yourself is in the lesson you learned this weekend.</p>
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<p>Rock on, girl!</p>