The Tri Town Times: 5/9/22

• Posted on 9 May 2022
• By Antonio Gonzalez
• Posted in the tri town times
• 0

This Week: Ironman World Championships. Thoughts on motivation.

Image: Daniela Ryf on her way to a 5th World Championship win at St. George.

Hi all,

Here is your weekly Tri Town Times newsletter:

Weekend race report: 

• Daniella Ryf won her 5th 2021 Ironman World Championships in St. George, Utah. Ryf won by ten minutes, using her tried and true method of opening a dominate lead on the bike, and finishing with a solid run. 
• In only his second attempt at the distance, Kristian Blummenfelt won the 2021 Ironman World Championships. Kristian pieced together a balanced race, securing the lead mid way through the run. 

Quote that struck a chord:

 "Motivation is a skill. It can be learned and practiced." Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon.

Motivation and mental toughness go hand in hand. It's easy for an athlete to fall into the trap of waiting for motivation to strike, like lightning. The athletes who wait for motivation to strike spend a lot of time thinking about working out, and little time actually doing it. The trick is to get moving, to lace the shoes and get out the door, whether you're motivated to or not. Over time, what was once a struggle to get moving becomes a habit. 

Tim Ferris once said he tries to "write two crappy pages per day" when working on a book. As an athlete, there will be times when just two crappy miles is all your body has to give. What matters is that you get it done- not because those two crappy miles are going to make a demonstrative difference in your fitness, but because in the process of getting the work done you proved something to yourself that cannot be proven any other way: that you are a person of action.  

True mental toughness cannot be founded on just a belief. If you want to be an athlete who is truly mentally tough, you cannot simply believe you're tough, you prove it by taking daily action towards your goal. When done right, it will look like you're highly motivated, which you are, but waiting for motivation to strike has nothing to do with it. Motivation, mental toughness, and ultimately belief in yourself all start by getting in those "two crappy pages per day."

If you have a moment to spare:

Blummenfelt: it's good to be king.

Have a great week!

Antonio Gonzalez

Tri Town Bicycles

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