Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Taper Madness//Mantras

Okay, so, Sunday was my last long run before the race. Meaning that there will be no more.
Robb has assured me that I will be ready. I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I will not overtrain.
But I also probably won't be sleeping very well for the next 12 days.

I got all the sleep I need yesterday. I was completely exhausted from days of working and homework and not eating well. I went to have a "nap" at 4:30 yesterday. I got up at 6:50 this morning.

Let's just glance at training for the next two weeks...

Tuesday: 6k TEMPO run
Wednesday: About 9k speed work
Thursday: 8km tempo run with friend from work
Sunday:6k!! 6K! NOT EVEN 12. 6.AHHHHHHHH
Tuesday:10k race pace
Wednesday:6k race pace
Friday: 3k race pace

and then it's the race. THE RACE!!!!!

ah. So, I have determined some "mantras"

Refuse.Intimidation
(I won't be intimidated)

Pain.is.better.than.regret

Of.course.I.can.do.this.I.am.tiger

Conquer.the.hill

Pain.is.weakness.leaving.the.body

I.am.because.I.run.I.run.because.I.am

Don't.stop.people.are.watching

If.Running.Was.Easy.Everyone.Would.bet.Doing.It.

I.will.fight.the.fight.I.will.finish.the.race.I.will.keep.the.faith.

My.Medal.Hot.Shower.Cold.Drink
(I won't say cold beer as I am underage)

Mama.Says.They.was.magic.shoes.and.they.could.take.me.anywhere.

Okay. Im done.

Wait. I'm.strong.Im.fit.I.trained.for.this.

Got any more mantras??

Tiger

4 Comments:

At 3:51 PM , Blogger Joe said...

> Pain.is.better.than.regret

I like that one (as long as it's good pain)

> Wait. I'm.strong.Im.fit.I.trained.for.this.

Another good one.

> Got any more mantras??

I don't have any mantras, per se, but I do have a couple of mental "strategies" that I use.

First, I have found over the years that I achieve my very best athletic performance when I can successfully think about nothing.

Ray Knight, the famous baseball player who was the MVP of the 1986 world series, once said "Concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary."

When you are at the starting line and you are waiting for the last few minutes to tick off before the starting gun, try this. Face the starting line and stare down the course, off into the distance. Try to clear your mind and think about absolutely nothing. Don't even think about your plan for the race because you should know it by then. You'll be suprised how powerful this technique is.

I use the second mental strategy during the latter half of the race when I'm really hurting. I say to myself "I know I'm in pain but so is the guy next to me. If he can do it, so can I". I guess that is kind of a mantra...

I hope that helps.

 
At 7:53 PM , Blogger AddictedToEndorphins said...

Hey! I like that. I cannot for the life of me think of nothing though. I guess I am not very concentrated. But I will try the starting line thing. I will try not to overthink.

And I very much like the last "mantra." IF he can do it, So can I!

 
At 2:48 AM , Blogger robison52 said...

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always, wins - not through strength but by perseverance. "I am the stream, I will not quit. I will never give up. I am relentless."

 
At 9:42 AM , Blogger Wes said...

My favorite mantra is:

"I am Iron"

I guess that could apply to running just as much as triathlons. You are going to be fine and do great in your race, Tiger. Come next weekend, you want to toe the starting line feeling like you are bursting with energy. That is what taper is all about. Hell, I would say your taper is a little aggressive, but that's probably just me.

Oh, and some of your mantras are really cool. Stay on target, Tiger!!

 

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