Turtule Pond - Mental Tenacity

[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

[Crankin]

Yes! That was me. And I thought it was you.
And I was glad to see that you sort of had a look of pain on your face...
(to make myself feel better about the pain I feel every time I have to come home on my bike!).
Robyn

[redrhodie]

SO, I just saw your other post....did you do this race with a splint on your hand?

[SheFly]

SO, I just saw your other post....did you do this race with a splint on your hand?

No. For my training rides, I fashioned an alternative splint, but I raced without - needed to have access to brakes and shifting...

SheFly

[redrhodie]

Still, I'm willing to bet you weren't 100% that day, especially on the hill, where you probably couldn't pull with your normal gusto.