Kona or Bust –
Week 11 Game Face
I’ve often been
asked were I go mentally when I race and how I can find a way to dig as deep as
I do. The simple answer is 2 words…GAME FACE! I’m not sure exactly when it
happens but there is a moment on race morning that a switch flips and I go into
a zone. I’ve been told my face and expressions will literally change. I’ve
countered with; “It’s nerves!” I’m met with opposition saying that it’s not
nerves but a legit change in demeanor.
Maybe.
Am I aware that
it’s happening?
Sometimes.
Most of the time
I’m talking myself through my race plan trying to account for every important
detail. Really though, it’s just nerves!
This weekend I
raced for the first time since the 70.3 in St. Croix, 12 weeks ago. Inside
those 12 weeks I’ve trained myself to a point of fitness that I have never been
close to touching…ever. I’ve been organized and structured. I’ve changed my
diet to make my body a more efficient machine. I’ve never felt more prepared
than I did on Saturday morning for my hometown race, the MascomaMan Half.
I was nervous, as
always, but eagerly put on the Game Face as soon as I walked into transition. I
grew up training on the course. I’d done the race twice before, winning overall
female and setting a personal record. I was confident in my preparation and
game plan. All I had to do was race smart and see where that took me.
Rather than make
this a race report, I’ll spare you the nit picky details of each leg and
transition. The swim started 40 minutes late because of fog, but the water was
warm and clear-ish, my lines were on point, and I came out of the water feeling
solid. Transition 1 (T1 swim-to-bike) was tight…super tight. I couldn’t move
without bumping another bike. Thankfully I got out of there will little trouble.
The bike leg was a very typical New Hampshire course; lots of bumps, cracks
& fissures, and deteriorating road shoulders. Just when I started to get my
rhythm I’d hit a series of bumps or have to dodge a crack lose my rhythm and
have to find it again. My legs took a little longer to get under me and just as
the climbing started my legs started to feel good. Typical. The bike course was
an extra 2 miles longer this year due to a change in venue but the final 2 were
smooth and flat so I’m not complaining. Transition 2 (T2 bike-to-run) was fast
and a little crazy. I came in to T2 as the second female. Immediately, I was on
the hunt. So much so I hadn’t clipped my race belt on until I well onto the run
course. The run is where my plan went a little astray. Blame it on my
competitive spirit and the Game Face that I put on at the start of the race.
I rarely like to
say out loud my goals for each race or each section. I don’t want to come off
as being presumptuous about my ability or just plain crazy. I know what I’m
capable of, but choose to shoot for just below that so as not to set myself up
for failure. Call me a sandbagger if you want but it’s the only way I can
mentally get through a race. Once I’m on the course I reassess where I’m at and
make any and all adjustments to meet or beat my initial goals. However, at this
race I had no intention of losing. This was going to be my day because I’d
worked to hard not to cross the finish line first.
I dialed up my
run to clear the 7 minute/mile mark to catch the lead woman. Smooth and steady
was mantra. Once she came into sight I immediately set an evil death ray stare
onto her back. It didn’t matter that she started 4 minutes ahead of me and if I
stayed behind her the rest of the race I’d still get the overall win. For those
of you that know me well enough know that that isn’t an option. In catching her
I put out just a tad more than I would have liked but hoped beyond hope that the
upcoming climbs would take more out of her than me. They didn’t. She caught me,
but I wasn’t going to let her go to the finish line alone. She needed company.
MY COMPANY! For the next 4-5 miles we matched each other step for step. I found
another wind…sorta. We both dug a little deeper than we would have otherwise.
The finish line always allows me to find a little extra and I had by a solid 10
yards at the line. GAME FACE Baby!
In chatting
afterwards I learned that a few years prior I beat her in the Mooseman Olympic
in a similar fashion; out of T2 and on the run. I have to say she was a worthy
competitor and I give her a huge amount of respect. Women can be nasty to one
another, especially the more competitive we get. She was quite the opposite and
spurred me on when I was sure I wouldn’t be able to hang. I only hope I was
able to repay the favor with my words of encouragement when she too started to
fade too. Regardless of the personality that comes along with the Game Face
there is always time for perspective and what’s more important.
After returning
to home from a weekend in NH with family, I stopped to collect my thoughts. I had a lot of
questions answered regarding my training and racing, but for as many that were
answered a handful more arose. I have 11 weeks to figure them out and I’m
confident that I’ve surrounded myself with the right people to make the seemingly
impossible possible.
For as great as
this weekend was there was also a low moment. I said what was more than likely
my final goodbye to my high school basketball coach. Cancer has taken over his
body and despite an amazing battle he’s not going to come out on the winning
end. He played a hugely significant role in making me the athlete and
competitor I am today. He treated my teammates and I like athletes, not girls.
He taught us it was okay to dive on the floor and to celebrate floor burns. We
were not overly talented but our mission was to work as a unit on the court.
Team defense was our specialty and to hear him yell “Scramble” and sub in all
of our smallest and quickest players to wreak havoc on the opposing team was a
moment we waited for. It is fair to say that when I put my Game Face on it is
because he taught me it was okay to do so. He wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In
fact he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with his ruthless style of
basketball and coaching. However, many of us flourished under his direction and
would willingly put our bodies on the line to make sure we came up with the
ball.
My conversation
was brief but to be able to sit with the man that helped mold me into the
athlete and coach that I am today was a moment I will not soon forget.
As you can
imagine he sees life through a different set of eyes. His time is short and spending
it with his kids and family are what’s important to him. He didn’t have to say
it, but he made it clear, always fight the fight but never lose sight of what’s
important in life, Family.
The next 11 weeks
my focus will narrow and I will become more data driven than ever. Long rides
will become painfully long but I’ll be sure to pull my head up every so often
to take in the moment and think of those that are important to me. Regardless
of how well I do in Kona, I will put my Game Face on and fight a good fight
until all 140.6 miles are behind me.
SK
