Well, the weather really did change yesterday! I was tracking my friends wife (Julie) who was competing her first 1/2 Ironman event, in Weymouth. The swim was cancelled due to the thunder and lightening being dangerous, plus the sea was really choppy because of the wind. This meant that the race started later and with the bike ride, instead of a swim.
Having trained hard over the past 6 months, I am sure she was a little disappointed with this decision, but is was the safest option. I can also imagine that it changed the mindset of quite a few of the other competing athletes, now doing something different than planned for. I am sure many competitors decided not to bother, and probably went home! Julie, decided to carry on. 💪🏼
We were supposed to be visiting family but we turned around after 7 miles, because of the torrential rain and the building traffic, so thinking of being on a 56 mile bike ride followed by a 13.1 mile run, is the last thing I’d want to do. I decided to sit in front of the TV and spent the day watching sport, followed up by eating a Sunday roast.
I did look at the camera stream in Weymouth (picture above) and, the athletes that had decided to carry on, despite everything, looked motivated and determined, although, soaked and cold too. Having said that, I am certain that once they completed the event, there was a sense of satisfaction and an increased confidence in their resilience levels.
Thinking back to some of my previous events, the ones that stood out were because of the adversities I had to overcome. A flat tyre, a fall, water at 11 degrees C, high winds, rain, extreme heat, blisters, poor nutrition and a change in rules or format, are things I remember from certain events. They are all fond memories that, at the time, did not feel great, but built my resilience to deal with challenges and changes, in life.
These are the things I share with my kids, friends and on some programmes I deliver, to reinforce how amazing the human body is and how much of an impact the mind has on success or failure (And everything in-between). A quote from Henry Ford always springs to mind when I think of achieving anything in life and it is “If you think you can, or think you can’t, you are probably right.”
When I look at my past and apply that theory, it fits in nicely. The things I didn’t think I could do, or be good at, I didn’t put any effort in to and I didn’t improve, but, the things I thought I could be good at, I tried, made mistakes, tried again and got better. A simple theory with a massive impact on people’s lives.
What is there, in your life, that you’ve always wanted to do but have thought “I’d never be able to do that”? It could be time to challenge that mindset and get it done! Remember to start with some small steps, quick wins and keep going!