When the Going Gets Tough, the Smart Get Support

On October 13th, Matt Smith, Temple Hayles, Eric Gutknecht, Katy Blakemore and Dr. Laurel Wright who all train with Mile High MultiSport will be competing in the 2012 Ironman World Championship. Gaining entry to the Ironman World Championships is one of the most coveted spots in all of athletics. Qualifying for this event gives you bragging rights for the rest of your life as truly being one of the elite in the sport of triathlon.

While they’ve all trained hard for this event, everyone who has ever done a triathlon of any length knows that there will be someplace during the race when the going gets tough. It’s why triathlons are such a great challenge!

Three questions:
What can we do to support these fellow athletes when they find the going gets tough during their Ironman? While it may sound corny, let’s all be thinking of them and sending Matt, Temple, Eric, Kathy and Laurel energy and best wishes for a safe and fast race throughout the day on October 13th. If you know one of them personally, all the better! Send them a quick email or text. Let them know you’re thinking of them and sending them energy.

What can they do to support themselves when it gets tough? 1) Make a list of all the people who have helped you train and prepare for your Ironman. Mentally thank them for the help they’ve provided. By doing this, you’re further committing to completing a contract you’ve verbally and through your actions made with all your supporters. 2) Carry something with you, or write something on your hand that reminds you every so often during your race of all the hard work you’ve done and all the support you’ve received as you’ve trained for your Ironman. It will remind you at a crucial time of all the support that’s behind you. 3) When you see and hear people cheering, understand that they’re cheering you on, and that they’re representing all the people back home who are cheering you on. Acknowledge the cheering, drink it in and use the energy to keep going and to celebrate the dream you’re living. Let their cheering remind you of the triumph and celebration of the race, and lift you out of the drudgery and suffering of it.

What can each of us learn that will help us in our coming triathlons? See question 2 and use these strategies not just when you’re doing your triathlon, but also while you’re training for it this fall, winter and next spring.

Best wishes to Matt, Temple, Eric, Kathy and Laurel. Travel safely and race well. We’ll all be thinking of you through the day and evening this coming Saturday.

Tim Engels, M.A., sports psychology consultant with Mile High Multisport LLC, is a sports psychology consultant and counselor in Denver, CO.  You can contact him at (303) 956-5691 or tim@timspractice.com and find him at www.timspractice.com.