tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post3225073077085887404..comments2023-09-24T04:26:14.527-07:00Comments on Susi's Somewhat Zen Ramblings: Chinook Half Ironman Race Report 2009....Susihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982728756250531737noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-201453024937727852009-06-26T08:45:10.984-07:002009-06-26T08:45:10.984-07:00I'm extremely proud of you for finishing Susi....I'm extremely proud of you for finishing Susi. Everyone has bad days/races, it's ok. You still finished what you started.runningmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04741958241490144866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-52339747374685060132009-06-25T08:12:00.741-07:002009-06-25T08:12:00.741-07:00Susi, I'm so sorry that this race wasn't a...Susi, I'm so sorry that this race wasn't all that you hoped for. That mental battle is a tough one. I ask myself very similar questions, most often while I am hating swimming. But ultimately I do love how all three sports come together and swimming is just a part of the package. <br /><br />You went out there and finished which means that you were able to get past the negative thoughts. I think we learn more about ourselves on the bad days - we learn where we need to improve, and eventually we see the silver lining in the situation.<br /><br />Congratulations on your race. Just keep up the good work and I know you will have a stellar IMC. Hopefully I'll see you up at GWN!Runner Leanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05920305723750242672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-6189603169750352602009-06-23T15:24:06.357-07:002009-06-23T15:24:06.357-07:00Geez, you have a lot of good advice on here.....an...Geez, you have a lot of good advice on here.....and like everyone else I think you did great. I can so relate with getting passed on the bike and I don't know how to stop those negative thoughts either. Because after enough time it just gets old. Happens to me EVERY race. I try to tell myself that I'm a great athlete in my own right and that I'm lucky to be out here b/c that means I'm healthy. That usually turns things around but it is so hard.<br /><br />I think you had a great race and look forward to your reflections in future posts. I hope you stick with it! Congrats on a sticking it out and earning that medal (and helping Keith when he was down).Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00027221614900215898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-59525745139463002012009-06-23T12:30:58.625-07:002009-06-23T12:30:58.625-07:00Hello,
I was checking google for news reports on ...Hello,<br /><br />I was checking google for news reports on the race (like Mike Bock suggested) and came across your blog. I just wanted to congratulate you on playing the mental battle to keep on trucking through the whole race. <br /><br />No matter how fast you get or how slow you go, when you are asking your body to perform at it's physical limits you're bound to end up playing those discussions with yourself through your head. <br /><br />One thing I might suggest you try doing for future races would be to break down the run into sections and give yourself a mental goal for each one. I read that you set goals for the race but if you make them a bit more specific and time limited you might find that they provide even more ammunition when compared to setting goals for the day. <br /><br />For example my run was split into 4 sections each of about 5 kms. <br /><br />1. find my running legs, don't worry about time or speed. <br />2. keep things under control but try to start running steady, I still have a long way to go. <br />3. Pick up the pace, try to go!<br />4. Hold on to the good work that I've already done and survive to the finish. <br /><br />It provides a reason to change your focus when you reach certain destinations. It sounds to me like you spent the final 15 kms of the run in about the same mindset, if you have pre-planned changes you will have reason to get out of any ruts you find yourself in. <br /><br />P.S. I walked up heartbreak hill too on both laps.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15260298021546690086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-29133390280585123422009-06-23T06:47:43.744-07:002009-06-23T06:47:43.744-07:00You finished!!!! In the land where the impulse to...You finished!!!! In the land where the impulse to quit exists you finished!!! Nothing more needs to be said.Charlie Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371640149283892044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-86650202847453113302009-06-22T19:32:36.293-07:002009-06-22T19:32:36.293-07:00You perservered, got the medal and finished! I am ...You perservered, got the medal and finished! I am convinced some days we have it, some days the stars just aren't lined up and it isn't fun....congrats that you never gave up!!SWTrigalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514013348327672673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-51088894704134434102009-06-22T16:54:45.527-07:002009-06-22T16:54:45.527-07:00Hi Susi, this is Linda - don't feel bad about ...Hi Susi, this is Linda - don't feel bad about the comparison thing. It is normal to compare yourself & is the hardest thing to stop doing. Noticing you are doing it is the start of stopping the behavior. Also, to compete is also natural - I think hard wired in the genes. You don't compete, Mother Nature is going to wipe your genes out of the pool:)<br />I'm glad you were able to eat the cookies & that they did good things for you. When you mentioned the cookie after the race issue (never getting any because they were not gluten free) I could tell you felt a bit like the kid who never gets picked for games, so was glad I could ensure you had at least one race where you got all the cookies you could handle:) I promise you that if I can manage it, you will have cookies to eat after IMC too!Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364395150014197905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-70663666575122119562009-06-22T16:41:59.828-07:002009-06-22T16:41:59.828-07:00P.S. the only way you're allowed to quit a rac...P.S. the only way you're allowed to quit a race, is if medical is pulling you off...just sayin.Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15398496906384738920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-87508527290229764582009-06-22T16:41:04.758-07:002009-06-22T16:41:04.758-07:00Oh hell, I can't go out there and 'not wor...Oh hell, I can't go out there and 'not worry' about everyone else either. I'm still looking, I'm looking for their age group etc. BUT, the TWO races I've ever done that I'm most proud of weren't my fastest and weren't PR's they were the one's where I 'lost' third place 10 seconds - you know what, I didn't HAVE 10 more seconds. I laid it out there which is exactly what you did. Give it all, don't give up on the hill, don't give up on trying to pass that chick in front of you because you resolve yourself to the fact that you can't beat her. Effe it! Lay it on the line.<br /><br />Improvements - I got the most improvements in working with coaches (swim, bike, run - three different) on efficiency and form. While my swim times may not have changed a ton, I'm not thrashed when I start the bike, for example. I totally deconstructed my form in all three and got huge gains without more effort, per se.<br /><br />Pollyannaness - that's why I come here. You're the person on course that everyone WANTS to see for a kind word or smile! I just know it.Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15398496906384738920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-872935829639705272009-06-22T15:16:40.037-07:002009-06-22T15:16:40.037-07:00In 'Born to Run' (which I'm going to l...In 'Born to Run' (which I'm going to lend to you the next time I see you), one of my favourite quotes is, "Race the course, not the racers." I've decided that when I start racing again, that will be my race mantra, no matter where I am in the pack (which is usually at the back).Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02688106387124354167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-22505861776271347592009-06-22T14:30:02.011-07:002009-06-22T14:30:02.011-07:00Whoever would have thought that the mental struggl...Whoever would have thought that the mental struggle would be harder than the physical struggles? I think you did great to tough it out and stay strong. I wish I'd thought of ripping off the top tube number. Technically, we had a wind out of the north the entire ride, meaning a cross-wind, which means with bike speeds (even for us) it feels like a head wind. Those two volunteers, the one with the clappers and the other with the bells? Yeah. They were on me like the white on rice.<br /><br />That stupid truck just before turnaround. It was bad enough passing on the road, that must have been a gong show as it got to transition. During the pre race meeting people were grumbling about having someone stopping you before turning around and making sure it was safe. Well, I'm glad they were there.<br /><br />It wasn't "almost hit the road sign". I actually hit it. <br /><br />I hear you about the back of the pack.Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364395150014197905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2388709260736897349.post-61419450698321401142009-06-22T13:21:19.033-07:002009-06-22T13:21:19.033-07:00Wow, there is so much to this post...But first and...Wow, there is so much to this post...But first and foremost I want to tell you that you are my hero. Seriously. I have always admired your positivity and "Pollyannaness" because it takes a very wise and mature person to look at the bright side of things all the time. That being said, it is also realistic that once in a while we get frustrated with ourselves and can't get our minds out of those negative places. I know you weren't happy about your finish comparted to everyone else, but you did in fact have a major accomplishment with this race: you didn't let your mind beat you and you made it to that finish line after giving it everything you had WHILE being nice to a lot of people on the course. I think you are the best kind of athlete there is. We always tell our kids in tri club that it's not about what everyone else is doing but rather racing is about you and your personal journey and how you make it through your journey. It looks like you had a tough journey but came out a better person because of it. I have these "I'm quitting triathlon" kind of thoughts too but I have started to realize that they occur mainly during longer distance races/training rides and runs. So maybe the answer for you is not to quit altogether but to work on shorter distances, esp. if you do truly care about how you do in relation to the rest of the pack: maybe you can focus on getting faster in the shorter distance races rather than trying to go long AND get faster all at once.<br /><br />If none of this advice is appealing to you then I say move down here (or I'll move up there) and we can all go camping and go to music festivals together. But just so you know I refuse to see a) Meatloaf or B) REO speedwagon. :)<br /><br /><br />Congrats, Susi, I think this one was a victory for you.KKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14000274933357972123noreply@blogger.com