Turtule Pond - Mental Tenacity

[Zen]

Yes, that is mental tenacity!
Thanks for giving it a name, I'm sure I'll be using that phrase a lot this summer.
The last time i was out my conversation with myself was "You don't even belong on the road".

[Veronica]

I always love reading your race reports.

V.

[redrhodie]

I don't think you're lacking anything! You didn't quit. Be proud of yourself!

You psyched yourself out. As someone who does that herself in stressful situations, I see the signs. I can almost see the little devil sitting on your shoulder, telling you you're going to fail.

I wonder if the pep talk you got from your teammate before the race made things worse? It sounds like he planted the seed that you would be mentally dropped. I'm sure he was just trying to help, but once that comment was out there, you were "dead".

[Zen]

You psyched yourself out.

99% of our performance is mental.
Maybe some sports psychology reading is in order for both of us.
Especially the chapter called The Hill

[SheFly]

Zen and RRH - you're both right. I talked to my coach about the race, and he said that I need to stop talking to myself - or at least listening to myself

I do think I was doomed from the start mentally, and that was probably 75% of my issue in the race. I didn't THINK that I would be able to hang in, and I didn't. I need to become more confident in my ability. Of course, all of this is MUCH easier said than done .

Anyone have some good mental tips for me????

SheFly

[Veronica]

"I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!" "I think I can!"
"I know I can!"

Yoga!

Yoga has become my answer for everything lately. It seems to have helped me focus or defocus (not a real word I know!) as needed.

V.

[SheFly]

Oh - good one, V! The little engine that could....

Update - they just posted the official results, and I WASN'T LAST! Woohoo! Finished 17th out of 18 finishers and 20 starters.

And I do need to look into yoga - seems to be the answer for lots of issues.

SheFly

[Veronica]

See and YOU finished. Any time you finish is good.

I do yoga at home with videos. The cats attack me, but that just makes it more fun.

V.

[Starfish]

Anyone have some good mental tips for me????

I know this might not be helpful, because I don't race, and I don't have any idea what it is like. But, you should seriously consider yourself a bold, courageous, strong racer. I don't even have the courage to try a race, let alone hang in one through my own mental gremlins trying to take me out.

Re-read your race report. You are much stronger than you are letting yourself believe!!! You DO have mental toughness. So, put that question to bed and next time out, spend the mental energy on your ride, rather than on the internal dialogue.

(Hope that doesn't sound condescending from someone who doesn't race. I was thinking of a different area where I had a little breakthrough in confidence, and all the sudden, there was SO much more energy to put into the actual activity, as opposed to all my internal noise.)

[Zen]

Re-read your race report. You are much stronger than you are letting yourself believe!!!

+1 to that

ETA- I just found this article that might actually be helpful.
For all of us, racers or not.

[Crankin]

Kathy,

You are one of the strongest people I know! Even though I don't race, I have been around enough people who do, to know this. Going to the 1/2/3 category is tough, when they are grouped all together. And everyone else is right; the mental self talk can either help you or kill you. I also have a real problem with this, especially when I'm in an unfamiliar or tough cycling situation. You have to find a happy medium with the voice in your head!

I have a great DVD of yoga for cyclists. It's not the hardest yoga I've ever done, but it works. If you want to come by and borrow it to copy, that's fine.

Robyn

[SheFly]

+1 to that

ETA- I just found this article that might actually be helpful.
For all of us, racers or not.

Zen - thanks for the link to the article! I have just skimmed so far, but it looks great!

I have a great DVD of yoga for cyclists. It's not the hardest yoga I've ever done, but it works. If you want to come by and borrow it to copy, that's fine.

Robyn

Thanks, Robyn! I actually have this DVD, and have only done it once. Should likely do it some more. BTW - was that you I passed on your road yesterday? I was doing a hard interval using your hill, and am certin you passed me driving home...

SheFly