“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.” – Earl Nightingale
It’s triathlon race day and you’re at the swim start line. When the gun goes off, you will swim then bike then run for a total of anywhere between 10 to 140.6 miles depending on the distance of the race.
Whether you’re new to the sport and racing in your first sprint or international triathlon or a veteran completing another IRONMAN triathlon, the race may feel overwhelming at the start.
Even after I had completed more than 100 triathlons including more than IRONMAN distance triathlons, I still felt overwhelmed by the full IRONMAN distance on race morning. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of swimming for an hour, biking for 5 hours then running 3.5 hours.
So how do you overcome being overwhelmed?
Answer: Break your race into more manageable “chunks.”
What do I mean by chunks? Let me give you an example.
Rather than tell myself, “I have to swim 2.4 miles then bike 112 miles then run a marathon,” I change my internal dialogue to: “I have to get to the first buoy.” Then the second. Then the third. Etc. My 9 to 10 hour race is now a series of 5 to 10 minute “chunks.” I simply focus on the current “chunk” then about the next when I get to it.
Sound too simple? It really is simple, but it works. Try it in your next race. One “chunk” at a time.
Happy training,
David
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About the Author:
David B. Glover, MS, CSCS has completed 28 IRONMAN distance triathlons including two sub 9 hour finishes and winning Vineman Full twice. Now, David’s passion now is helping triathlete and other endurance athletes achieve their dreams through his online triathlon education and training company, ENDURANCEWORKS. David has an MS in Exercise Physiology and is certified as a coach by USA Triathlon and USA Cycling as well as having his CSCS from NSCA. After six years of living, training and coaching in the triathlon mecca of Boulder, CO, David currently resides in Southern California.
