Trust . . .

This post is specifically for anyone who is getting ready for their first 1/2 Ironman -- most specifically, my awesome TRIgirl teammates who are in the final prep stages for White Lake's 1/2 IM!!
Trust: assured reliance on the ability, strength, or truth of someone or something

Future 1/2 IM'ers: you are now seated, buckled and taking the express track on the crazy train. Yes, I realize that you 'thought' your ride on the crazy train began months ago and consisted of miles upon miles on trainers, endless circles running along the WC hamster trail and permanent goggle eyes from all those hours in the pool -- well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you have really been on the 'metro-link' or 'monorail'. It's like the train but it has more flexibility. More stops. Maybe even the ability to get off and get back on after a day or two. But, now you are three weeks out from your first 1/2 IM. Let me put it this way: you have now boarded the official CRAZY Train and it has left the station. There are no more exits. No more stops. Your bags are in the cargo hold. And you must sit. Buckled. Waiting. You can almost see your destination. Maybe if you press your face to the glass and try to look really far ahead -- it's almost within view if you could just streeeetch a bit more to see in front of the train. But, no, that is not possible. Reaching your destination without losing your mind will be entirely dependent on one thing: TRUST

While on the train, you will see many other passengers. Some will spend hours running up and down the aisles. Some will be practicing dry land swimming drills or holding their breath to increase their oxygen capacity. Perhaps one or two will even be sticking their head out the window with their pointy-little aero helmets on. You will wonder: Am I ready? Shouldn't I be sticking my head out the window? Maybe I should have a pointy little helmet. Perhaps, this is the wrong train. Maybe I should have gotten on the short bus instead.

Let me share a secret with you: the HARDEST part of training is TRUSTING IN YOUR TRAINING! You are ready and you need to LET GO. I read this on another site:

"'Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness.'
The Buddha

Think about how badly you want to make the starting line. Use your goals to motivate you to train and then, when it counts the most and the heat of competition is turned up high, LET THEM GO. Success in athletics and life is a paradox. When it counts the most, you must LET GO of outcome and trust yourself. You must trust your training, trust your hard work, trust your muscle memory and relax, letting the race come to you. This is the only way that you can be successful and this is the only way that you’ll ultimately be happy. Holding on to the importance of this performance and dwelling on all that’s at stake will only kill your joy, rob you of your courage and steal your heart in the process. When you LET GO of winning, it will come and find you."

Now how true is that?

Let me guess how you're feeling: "I am not prepared." "I don't know everything." "Other people seem to know so much more than I do." "I'm not ready." "I need to do more." "Was my training program enough?"

Let me assure you of something: If Coach G says you're ready -- YOU ARE READY. Period. You WILL complete your goal. And, learning to trust in this is all part of your training. Training to trust takes just as much concentration, effort and determination as it takes to begin running, swimming or biking. Think about it. At one time in your life, you probably never thought you could run/bike/swim the individual distances of a 1/2 Ironman. But, now here you are and you have done all of those distances individually. Training to trust is the same. It will be hard. It will put you outside of your comfort zone. But it is just as necessary as training for any other discipline.

I used to work part time at a high ropes challenge course. We had this one initiative where participants would climb a 50 ft. narrow telephone pole. Once on top, they would precariously balance on top of the shaking pole while trying to turn around. Once facing the right direction, they would jump to try to catch a trapeze. Now, if the trapeze was on the ground, anyone and everyone could easily jump from one spot and catch it. But, when you are out of your comfort zone, sometimes perfectly reachable goals seem much further out of reach.

Inevitably, participants would climb the pole, balance on top, turn and then pause. Waiting. After all that hard work to get there, they would see their goal right in front of them but not trust in themselves -- or in me as their safety line. I would talk to them and try to coach them through the experience. I would remind them to trust me and my ability in my role. Then I would remind them to trust their equipment. Trust in the strength of their legs. Trust in their ability. Then let go and take that last leap of faith to try to reach their goal. At that point, each person had a choice to make -- listen to some of the people down below who may be whispering about how they did it differently when they climbed the pole or how how they questioned whether the goal was attainable at all. Or they could listen to the voice inside them that believed they could do it and, maybe, listen a little to me -- someone who had led dozens of people up that pole and had seen what it took to reach that goal. Happily, many times participants would choose to block out the whispers and trustingly leap through the air with arms outstretched toward the trapeze. They would come down happy and fulfilled for giving themselves fully to the experience. For those who didn't trust, there was always regret and a wish to do it again. But that wasn't the deal. There was only one chance. No do-overs. No second chances. Their opportunity had passed them. So, do not let doubt creep into your mind after all your hard work. Trust in your ability. Trust in your training. Trust in your coaches - Grandison, Mark, Ed, Som -- they have all seen what it takes to get you to this point. Trust the plan. And then go for your goal with your arms outstretched in front of you!

Now, with all that being said, maybe what you're really worried about is not whether you will finish but whether you will do as well as you'd like to. Maybe you need to reassess what your 'true' goals are. Do you have other 'sub-goals' like making certain times? Well, if that's the case, then that is dependent on YOU. From another site:

"TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR TRAINING

Want to maximize your chances of reaching your athletic dreams? Then start to practice the 10 most powerful words in the English language: "IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME." This means that to be successful you must understand that ultimately, everything rests on your shoulders. In short, it is up to YOU to determine how far you go in your sport. You have to take responsibility for your training. Blaming coaches, teammates, or lack of training opportunities is NOT practicing these 10 words. Don't look for excuses. Don't shoulder others with blame. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Understand that you alone have ultimate control over what you get out of practice and how far you go in your sport. Remember, if it is to be, it's up to YOU!"

So, for what it's worth, those are my few words of wisdom about these final tapering weeks. And, remember, to cherish every, single, tiny moment of this journey. This time will go by so fast and will seem like a distant memory at this time next year. Write down your thoughts, share them with your family or keep them for yourself, but find a way to remember everything you are feeling right now. This is an amazing time and an absolutely, awesome experience!!

"It is a great leap of faith you're taking, and the kind that flies in the face of all that logic and common sense we often use to strangle dreams before they get a chance to even see a hint of daylight. It is why you race, it is why we race...and you're going to make it. Enjoy this trip...the highs, the lows, the dark and the lighter moments. You'll have a hell of a time, and any attempt you make to do this will feel far better than the nagging regrets you'd have no answer for in your future if you were to walk away right now. Courage...this is your time to do it." Bob Mina

Rock on TRIgirls!


Disclaimer: Make no mistake -- after only two 1/2 IM's and 1 full Ironman, this post doesn't mean that I think of myself as an 'expert' by any means!! But, I know how a lot of you are feeling right now -- and I hope that sharing some of this helps. Much love!