Why triathletes should do obstacle course runs like the Spartan Race
Triathlons are about the “known” and certain. You know the order of each leg of the race – swim then bike then run (with a few exceptions). You know the distances of each leg. You can preview the course ahead of time and there are volunteers to tell you where to go on race day. You swim in a lake or pool, bike on pavement and run on a reasonably flat and straight course (for the most part). Triathletes are notorious for being creatures of habit and rigid in their training (I know – I’ve been once since 1995). Obstacle course runs like Spartan Race are about...
Read MoreHow to survive low moments in an Ironman, other triathlons or life in general
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” ~ Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning ~ “Low moments” in a race — especially an Ironman triathlon with its 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run — and in life are inevitable. So how do you get through them? Attach “meaning” to your race (and this applies to the rest of your life, too). In other words, ask yourself the hard question:...
Read MoreYou are what you eat…err, rather, you are what think
“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” - Henry Ford (1863-1946) Remember the adage, “You are what you eat?” There is a corresponding adage: “You are what you think.” In other words, your thoughts influence your feelings, which influence your behavior. Think positively and you’ll have positive outcomes. Think negatively and the opposite holds true. One of the most consistent findings in sport psychology research is that confidence – a belief in one’s abilities – is a positive a predictor of performance. If you have...
Read MoreHow old is too old? Diana Nyad is swimming from Florida to Cuba…at age 61
I enjoy swimming and I’ve done a number of open water races up to 2.4 miles as part of an Ironman Triathlon. But to swim 103 miles from Florida to Cuba in the ocean with sharks, man o’war jellyfish while battling changing seas conditions and trying to eat and drink enough is simply incomprehensible to me. Diana Nyad is going to make the 103 mile swim attempt at age 61. This will be her second attempt. Her first attempt was 32 years ago at the age of 29. She swam for more than 49 hours before stopping due to eight foot swells. Why is she doing it? In her interview in...
Read MoreChanging paradigms
My Airplane Music Paradigm I’m sitting on a plane and have my headphones plugged into my laptop as I’m listening to the music in my iTunes library. Because I’m sitting over the wing, the engine noise is droning loudly in the background so I turn up the volume. I feel a tap, tap against my arm. I turn to my left. It’s the stewardess. ”Excuse me, sir, but I don’t think your headphones are plugged all the way in.” I look down. Sure enough, they’re not. Oops. I hope the people around me like The Dire Straits. My paradigm has shifted from...
Read MoreFrom athlete dropout to triathlon pro: Achieving an impossible dream
Yes, it’s true you can be anything in life if you want it badly enough and are willing to work for it. I’m actually a great example because I was an unimpressive athlete growing up. In fact, in most cases I was a “drop out” in just about every sport I attempted. I only went to one swim practice in first grade then quit because I was too intimidated by the older kids. I played hockey then softball then soccer in grade school because my mom signed me up, and truthfully I sucked at all three but everyone received playing time at that age. In high school in California, I...
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