Hello friends…Mariah here…
My legs are still recovering from my triathlon. I finally earned my first podium finish and smashed my personal record along the way. To top off, I stopped by Johnny’s Pastrami’s in Culver City and had myself a nice chili hamburger. They are famous for the pastrami’s, hence the name, but for some odd reason, I was craving a juicy burger after the race. I am not sure whether the race or the burger was more satisfying. In any event, I want to share with you my experience during the race – specifically how I adjusted my game plan.
The number one game changer was my mental discipline. You have probably heard the phrases, “it’s all in your head,” or “mind over matter.” Many people, myself including, are living proof these statements are true. For instance, at the National meet a couple of months ago, I caved into the pressure. I let my fear get the best of me. The choppy waves during the swim caused me to lose my mental focus and confidence. Within five minutes into the race, I had already lost the battle. The lead pack gained a ten-minute advantage by the end of the swim.
This last weekend’s swim conditions were also rough, but I didn’t let the conditions impair my mental focus. Swimming through the large waves toward the buoy was a difficult task. Once I made it past the tide though, I regained my composure and focused on my breath control and stroke. I won the mental battle, and my confidence carried me through the race. By the end of the almost mile-long swim, I caught up to the lead pack.
The bike was by far my weaker event and is an area I will be focusing on for my next race. Fortunately, my strong running background propelled me to a third-place finish. I passed by five triathletes on the run. My running pace increased by almost 30 seconds! However, the two leading ladies gained a substantial lead on the bike that I could not overcome on the run.
In addition to mental discipline, I made some adjustments to my training program to address my weaknesses. Although I trained hard for Nationals and incorporated strength conditioning into my training, it did not suffice. To be an elite athlete, you have to go above and beyond your peers. I added another strength training workout to my weekly regime. I also incorporated another swim workout into my training program because the swim was my weaker event.
Finally, I made sure to fix the easy things like my bike. I got a tune up and a bigger chain disc and made sure my tires were fully aired up on race day. I highly suggest taking your bike into a shop before a big race to ensure proper functionality.
Right now I am focusing on recovery. Yesterday I completed a light swim routine to work out the lactic acid. Today will be another rest day, but I am hoping to finish a track workout tomorrow. My next race is in a few weeks, so I would like to bounce back quickly. Wish me luck!!
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit