(no subject)
As a reminder, both to myself and also to my Ironman-bound friends: A little refresher on WWPNFD.
Paula Newby-Fraser
Nothing is more disappointing and frustrating to PNF than to hear the level of expectation that people line up with on the starting line. They ask her, if I've done this, this, and this in training, is it reasonable to expect that I could finish in XX:XX?
They say, "If I'm going to [pick the one that speaks to you] hire a coach, pay for camp, buy a new bike, spend my entire weekend on training... Then I have to [pick the one that speaks to you] qualify for Kona, place in my age group, finish under X hours, whatever".
IF YOU SPEND YOUR WHOLE RACE FOCUSED ON YOUR EXPECTATION OF THE OUTCOME, YOU ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
People focus on time. What time is it? Am I on pace? How much time do I have?
No. What you focus on is RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, what do I need? Do I need to eat? Do I need to let my stomach settle down? Do I need to pick up my cadence? How's my turnover? Do I need to drink? RIGHT NOW what do I need? Am I hurting? If so, what can I do to take the edge off of it?
If you think about those things, instead of time, pace and extrapolating, then it only makes sense that you will perform to the best of your ability. You can't race any faster than that! It's about being present and dealing with the present moment.
She said that when she sees us on the course, she's going to ask us what time it is. Our answer is, "It's NOW and I need ______" (some Gatorade, to stretch for a second, whatever).
It's a long day. The fewer expectations you have, the better you are likely to do.
Paula Newby-Fraser
Nothing is more disappointing and frustrating to PNF than to hear the level of expectation that people line up with on the starting line. They ask her, if I've done this, this, and this in training, is it reasonable to expect that I could finish in XX:XX?
They say, "If I'm going to [pick the one that speaks to you] hire a coach, pay for camp, buy a new bike, spend my entire weekend on training... Then I have to [pick the one that speaks to you] qualify for Kona, place in my age group, finish under X hours, whatever".
IF YOU SPEND YOUR WHOLE RACE FOCUSED ON YOUR EXPECTATION OF THE OUTCOME, YOU ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
People focus on time. What time is it? Am I on pace? How much time do I have?
No. What you focus on is RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, what do I need? Do I need to eat? Do I need to let my stomach settle down? Do I need to pick up my cadence? How's my turnover? Do I need to drink? RIGHT NOW what do I need? Am I hurting? If so, what can I do to take the edge off of it?
If you think about those things, instead of time, pace and extrapolating, then it only makes sense that you will perform to the best of your ability. You can't race any faster than that! It's about being present and dealing with the present moment.
She said that when she sees us on the course, she's going to ask us what time it is. Our answer is, "It's NOW and I need ______" (some Gatorade, to stretch for a second, whatever).
It's a long day. The fewer expectations you have, the better you are likely to do.