Mantras
“Willpower” and “Mind over Matter“
I must have repeated those phrases to myself about a thousand times during my four hour ride today. I knew that there was no physical limitation that would stop me from doing today’s ride. And therefore I had no excuse whatsoever.
In his book, “The Athlete’s Way”, Chris Bergland discusses mantras and suggests finding some that will motivate and drive you when you’re feeling weak or less-than-determined to accomplish a training goal. Today, repeating those two phrases to myself over and over again helped push me on. If I had quit early today it would have only been because I decided to quit, not because I had to quit and when I put it like that to myself, there was no way I was giving up or cutting the session short or slowing down. No way.
When I got up this morning, other than feeling really tired, I felt pretty good. Getting on the bike was much easier than I’d feared – I just did it, I didn’t ask why or think for a single second that I might bail on the ride; I just got up, had some oatmeal, got dressed and went for my ride. It was a nice morning for a ride, if a little cool. I did the first four hours of yesterday’s course and was only a little slower than yesterday. And even that can partly be attributed to the head and cross winds I was battling for most of the ride. The first two and a half hours felt great, the last ninety minutes was more of a struggle and that’s when the mantras came in handy.
Coach John has awarded me two well-earned days off in a row this week. Hallelujah. My body needs the rest!
Bike – April 29
Distance: 74 miles
Time: 4:01
Average heart rate: 116
Course: Same as the first four hours from yesterday – tour of eastern Long Island
Conditions: Overcast, cool, humid