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Do you remember it?
That first school dance?
The first date? The song you listened to on the way to your first race?
The song playing at the finish line of your first Ironman? I often refer to these moments as
anchors. Sometimes they are the
“lucky … whatever”. These are how
we get anchored to our memories. I
have mine and if anyone knows me it is always music. I have the songs that my kids call “pump up music” that they
know as Mom getting ready for a hard session or a race. I have those artist that have “held my
hand” to get me through some rough times.
I have those songs that seem to always show up on a play list right when
I need it to get through the next interval. All of them – I have learned to use as an emotional anchor
to get me where I need to be.
Today I learned that one of my favorite bands is calling it quits. So while I was on the bike I got to
thinking about anchors. These were
my “go to” songs and theirs was the “go to “ concert to watch when Coachie need
me to learn knew levels of Smashfests.
But here is the thing about anchors – they are just that, an
anchor. The heavy weight to hold a
ship in place. There isn’t much
progress in that. Sure it is fun
to remember the good times. To
reach back and feel what it felt like to party like a rock star or hit all new
watts or make that interval is great.
The thing is that if I stay in that place – I don’t get on down the
road. I don’t feel new great
victories or have new incredible experiences.
I don’t drive the race course and I certainly don’t pre ride
it. I have found that has the
possibility of creating a negative anchor. I have found for me it is best to let the race come to me on
the day and trust my training. I
don’t want to have some apprehension about “that hill”. I know how to handle all the conditions
if I have prepared.
So here is to anchors away and charting the ever changing
course. Here is to embracing what
unfolds on the day because that is what racing and training for Ironman can do
for us. We can learn to roll with
the punches and live on the Wild Side!
