COACH
LARA SAYS:
I hope you had a fantastic race day and you took last week
to rest, recover and reflect on your experience! There are
a variety of different reasons that so many of you decided
to race in the U.S. Women’s Triathlon. Maybe
this was just a warm-up race for something bigger in your
season, maybe you did it on a dare to show those people in
your office that you could, or maybe you took on the challenge
to re-shape your body, mind and spirit. Whatever the reason,
I would like to share a few things I have learned over the
years training and racing triathlons.
There will always be obstacles
to overcome…just like in life.
Did you stress out before the race about the possibility
of your goggles getting knocked off in the swim or getting
a flat tire on the bike? If you did, you’re probably
not alone. Instead of worrying about things that are beyond
your control, during your training practice taking your goggles
off and on while treading water and changing a flat tire
before it happens. As the saying goes, “expect the
unexpected” so prepare and plan and you’ll be
ready for anything.
The body often follows the mind…remember
your bike ride, did you feel fast and strong or were you
struggling with every turn of the pedal? What were you
saying to yourself? Were those thoughts going through your
head negative or were they positive and encouraging? Positive
self-talk always helps turn a poor performance into a good
one… Just like it does in life. Stay focused, stay
positive and you’ll achieve your goals!
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Celebrate
your accomplishments no matter how small…whether
you won your age group or just crossed the finish
line, celebrating your achievements gives you the
opportunity to reflect on your experience. What
did you enjoy about the race? What did you dislike?
And what would you change for the next time? Which
brings me to my final point…
Look
to the future and set goals…Benjamin
Mays, a distinguished African American
educator, scholar, and social activist
once said, “Failure is not reaching
your goal, but having no goal to reach”.
Maybe this race was the only one you
considered, but now that it’s over
your aim is to compete again. When I
first started racing I never thought
I would sign-up for, let alone finish
an Ironman. But here I am three finishes
later and looking forward to my next
one. Often, those original objectives
that seemed so much larger than life
become stepping-stones towards a more
rewarding future.
It was truly a pleasure to be a part of your journey and
race experience at the U.S. Women’s Triathlon.
Congratulations on your achievement…you should be proud!
Hope
to see you next year!
-Coach
Lara |
