Skip to main content

Triathlon Spirit

Today I participated in the YMCA Women's Sprint Triathlon. This recount is not a race report about transition times and awards. It is about the mental aspects of triathlon. It is about my own mental chatter.

Why am I writing this?  Well I am my own project! I am a work in progress in all things. I am willing to be the student no matter whatever my age so I can learn new skills and learn about myself. 

For me and maybe others, triathlon is a mental trip. For most newbies, like myself, we are not good at every sport or even like to swim, bike or run but we are willing to try.  We are willing to humble ourselves and acknowledge that we are not good at something even before we start an event.  We strategize. As I spoke to different women today, I noticed that women put themselves in categories. Some declared themselves as swimmers and  stated that they would walk or crawl to the finish line but they would finish. For those who declared themselves as runners,   they vowed to do everything to get "the heck out if the water!!!"  
The mind of the triathlete is different. The mindset is one of sheer determination and focus. For example, one woman fell off her bike, but got up and kept going. Another women had a flat tire and was determined to continue. This " can do" spirit is what I love about triathlon at all levels.
 There are several things that were apparent for me today.
1. Athletes are competing against self, the mind and body.  
2. Triathlon is not about going faster necessarily but rather who slows down the least! Upon my observation, the difference between one athlete and another was not that one person was particularly fast, but they maintained a steady pace while another succumb to fatigue. Yes!! It comes down to how much suffering one can withstand. 
2. Triathletes adapt quickly. No matter how much training one does; the triathlete will never know what the conditions will be like on race day.  They adapt to changing conditions constantly from race delays to cancelled events. 
3. Triathlon is about the process. It is three races in one event. The mind and body is forced to focus on one event at a time.  This can be difficult, but I found that visualization and meditation assists in "staying in the moment."
What are the real applications? Perhaps triathlon could be a therapeutic tool to help people with anxiety. It can teach valuable lessons in self-discipline, positive self-talk and self-regulation. As I pursue my nurse practitioner degree in psychiatric/ mental health; it is my desire to understand how exercise/movement can impact mental health and addictions. Perhaps, triathlon can train those with anxiety and ADHD focus and the art of being present.  Perhaps, those who are afflicted with maladaptive addictions to substances, food, spending etc. can transfer maladapative behaviors  to ones that are adaptive and healthy. 

Until the next time....

It is all about the journey. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grit- Road to Chicago Olympic Triathlon

Definition  Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual's path to accomplishment, and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. Commonly associated concepts within the field of psychology include "perseverance", "hardiness", "resilience", "ambition", "need for achievement" and "conscientiousness".  This is who I am. Stacy the Grit.  Yes, I could spend a lot of time talking to you about my finish time and what I could improve upon yadda yadda yadda but anyone who reads my blog knows that I rarely focus on the outcome.  I focus on the process. I focus on how did I arrive at a specific point and time. I focus on the jour...
6 comments
Read more

2021 Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon

General thoughts about the Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon and the race experience.       On August 1, 2021, I participated in a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. If you want stats, splits, watts, etc. you will find none of it here.    Why?    It’s not what is important to me in participating in triathlon. It’s not my why! I signed up for the local race in Cascade, Maryland because I knew it would challenge me mentally and physically. My expectations were to finish and learn.  This race was not wetsuit legal and a USAT championship series race.    I knew it would bring out some spectacular athletes from the area.    But I also knew this, I have never swam in open water without a wetsuit.    Never.    Stacy motto- Safety first.  I will not put myself or others at risk for me to race.    I quietly spoke to the race director and he nodded that I could do the race but would not race in my...
Post a Comment
Read more

Goals: A healthy lifestyle has no finish line

As a coach, I get many questions on exercise, weight loss, running, etc. All are great questions. However, I find myself asking clients the same question. What is your goal? General health and performance goals share many commonalities. To meet healthy lifestyle or performance goals, both require the following: ·       Defined goal ·       Nutrition balancing ·       Exercise ·       Consistency However, there are some key differences between general health goals and performance/sport specific goals.   ·       Goals- Is your goal to “get healthy” What does that mean?   Does it mean lose a few pounds or run a marathon? Be specific. How do you plan to measure your success? This is important. Why? Some people say they want to “get healthy” without defining what that means for them. Define what healthy means for you. Write it down. If ...
Post a Comment
Read more