I have not posted much this month. It was a busy month. I am also battling a bad case of the borings. If feel boring, I am acting boring, I look boring. My thoughts are boring.
I'm boring myself.
It's a drag.
In January I will be super interesting. I can't stay this boring forever.
(can i?)
Today when I was on the bike (trainer) I was watching the 2010 Kona video. In it one of the pro athletes was commenting on how he wasn't sure Macca had the fight in him to win the race this year. Macca seemed content in his life, he said, and therefore he questioned whether he had the fire to win. Last year I remember Macca making the very same comment about Stadler and Al-Sultan--that they were content in their lives-- and that somehow the fact that they were "at peace" meant they were may not be contenders in the way they once were.
Do you think that's true?
Obviously it was not true for Chris McCormack--by which I mean not that he is not content in his life (I have no idea about something like that) but that he clearly still had some fire come race day....
But in general, is it true? Do we peform our best in sport when we are NOT balanced? Not content?
Are being at peace and winning at odds with one another?
There is a lot of talk in triathlon circles about how it is not just the stress of training that matters when attempting to keep our bodies healthy, but the stress of our lives combined with the stress of training. If we are struggling--with a relationship, with a job (or lack of one), with sickness--then we are less able to train well (supposedly) and more likely to race poorly. Right? But that thinking is in direct opposition to the position that fire comes from discontent; that without discontent we are not mentally fit to win.
Just as an exercise, I tried to figure out when I have raced my best.
And you know what? I think the race in which I performed best in my tri career (thus far) came at a time in which I was in extreme personal turmoil. Of course, I have also performed well when I was at peace (or relative peace) in my personal life. So go figure.
I can think of two reasons that race went so well: one, I was super small. (stress-induced smallness) and two, I was so overwrought that I was unable to over-analyze my race. I just raced.
Anyway. I am not exactly quite sure where I am going with this. Perhaps I am too boring right now to be particularly insightful. But I'm interested in what you think. Does peak performance require a background of discontent? or can we perform our best when the stars are all aligned in our lives?
18 comments:
I think I have to disagree. The best race I ever had was when I was at my fitness peak, I was happy in my life, and I raced for the shear fun of it. I actually won my AG at that race.
For me, when I am stressed, or have turmoil in my life, my races suck. So, basically, I think it is totally dependent on the person because everyone is different.
By the way, I'm sorry you're feeling so boring. For what it's worth, I don't think you're boring. :)
I picked up on that comment too.
I will say that the more confident I am in my personal life (family, work, friends), the less I want to be the best or beat other people in races. I still want to do well, but training does not fill a gap like it used to. Nothing in particular was going wrong in my life before, it was just my perception, the way I viewed things. I think that there is a difference between acute stress (imminent divorce, loss of job, sick kid) and chronic stress, particularly the existential kind. I think existential stress, if channeled, can make one race faster, but I think acute, intense stress can mess up with a race. Of course, it comes down to individual coping. If you can make stress anger, you can race well, if you make stress helplessness/hopelessness, you race poorly. Just my thoughts:)
By the way, what a boring post, ha, ha:)
I don't think we have to be discontent with our lives to race well, but I do think we have to be at least a bit discontent with our past triathlon performances... the FIRE has to come from somewhere... so while the stars can all be aligned in our lives, without the fire all season long I don't think you can manage the type of discipline and determination to do all that is required to end up with a stellar performance on the big race day when it counts. You have to WANT it, starting now, in my opinion. :)
Imagine losing your fire and just going through the motions in your day to day training/life. That will not likely translate into anything spectacular on race day. But this is probably the same case in other areas of our lives as well- lose your fire for your job and you'll probably do a half ass job and not get promoted. Lose your fire for your marriage and you probably won't have such a happy home and may end up alone. Lose your fire for being a great mom and your kids will feel it.
I have to disagree as well. I think that Macca won because he peaked at the right time and was lucky on that day.
My best races have come when I was content during training and enjoyed myself. I am smaller when I am happy - fatter when stressed.
I think it depends on the individual. My best races have come when I'm happy and alone and have had time to focus on my training without any distractions.
This post reminded me of a similar blog post I read last year by Kristin Armstrong, it related to training not racing, but an interesting parallel. http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/2009/10/tapping-in.html
I think it depends on the person. Most people can only think about so much at once, can only concentrate or focus on a few things at a time. If you've got your home and work life under control, then it's easier to focus on training and peaking for your race. Many people find that if they've got too much going on they get distracted from training and racing.
That said, some people use the drive to overcome all the extraneous stuff, and bring increased focus to their training and racing. I don't think many can do that. Personally, I think that's even more stressful than the training itself, and in the long run will exact a toll.
@Jen...yes. Armstrong's post rang with me.... when I raced so well I had been fueled in my training by a need to get out and release b/c of what was going on in my life. Running as therapy--especially when you really need that therapy--makes for some very consistent training.
This is a great post. I never thought about it this way. I can totally see where a person could take all of their turmoil, anger, grief, etc and take it out in their training, thereby going beyond what they had done before. I can also see where the mental anguish could set someone back. To me, depends on the person. But I do think there might be a correlation there.
LOVE your picture at the top. Is that child flipping me off?
@shutupandrun.
yep. She's flipping everyone off. ;) That's my oldest daughter (now 9) when she was 6 mo.
I think the comment was spot on.
If your relationship is working, then you're not training hard enough!
To be 'happy and content' with ones life, indicates a balance of some sort. For the vast majority, the balance would require taking time away from training and investing it into family/career/friends etc.
There is nothing wrong with that of course, just keep in mind that while you are spending time with the kiddies, your competition is out there training.
I remember Chrissy Wellington talking about how 'little' training she does compared to the rest of the girls. I think quality only trumps quantity AFTER you have reached a certain 'peak' performance level. No balance, less happy personal life = better results for 99% of us.
Just a thought...
Interesting responses! Given that I've only been racing seriously for the past 10 months and during that time I've had a fair amount of stress - I found tri to be a driving and channeling force. Loved every minute of it and improved no end!
2011 is already shaping up to be a great basis - I'm actually v. excited about what I can achieve with a little less stress. Maybe as you say when the stress is gone will the zeal go too! Will report back next year with the results.
Mary, to me you're full of spontaneity. Be proud of it. The other month I was feeling that way. Someone mentioned I looked alot like someone else (another middle age Mum). No offence to the MA-Mums but I really wanted to be me again - not part of a set. So I got a new hairstyle. Feel like a new woman! Knocked 10 years off me, mentally and physically.
Of course I think this is a very thoughtful questions. The ultramarathon runner Scott Jurek set a new world record by finishing 165 miles in 24 hours after his mother died, so clearly for some athletes adversity fuels the competitive fire. I, as you know, am one of those athletes... now I subscribe the the theory that extremes of the adversity continuum work best for peak performance. Either very happy and satisfied or in complete turmoil work best.
I think that for me, my training at times has been fueled by stress, but the training clears my head and then I have good races for that reasons. Yes, I want it both ways!
I think sometimes I train harder if I'm stressed. I certainly need those miles to clear my head and get some mental peace. But I race best when I'm in a good place. I can be mentally well-prepared, well-rested, well-fed, and content and have the best races ever. I think one of the reasons I can race better when I feel more peaceful in my life is that I can be more purposeful in my training. Some runs can be easy or short instead of having to go out and hammer everything. To really peak well, I think you have to be able to plan well, and I can't do that if I'm stressed.
Great question and interesting diversity of answers!
you are never boring. Think of it as a nice time that isn't insanely hectic and enjoy.
I have to also just insert my opinion here that Macca was Not Lucky on race day in Kona. He fought hard. If anyone has ever experienced the feeling of a competitor sneaking up on you to overtake the lead in a race ---you know it wasn't Luck that got him to the finish line first.
Regarding personal turmoil and race performance, that definately must be an individual thing. For me, if I have difficult things happening in my life, that is what I am focusing on and racing/ training becomes much harder for me because my heart is somewhere else. I definately do better when I am feeling content in my life. I strive for a balance that allows me to feel good in all areas.
I do not lose my fire to win when I am happy at home. I just like to win and do my best, period.
Mary, you are never boring. I think when people are the most comfortable (maybe not content) with their lives they perform at a higher level.
I do not believe in absolutes, but this is pretty close to inarguable:
The only thing that produces your **absolute** best racing is the singular desire to race at the highest level possible.
Other things may get you to 80% 0r even 90% but the best are driven by one thing and only one thing...
Anger is not more powerful than true desire! There is freedom of movement and psychological strength that comes from the knowledge: "this is who I am, and this is what I do."
Many people may need other things to motivate them to produce training and racing, but most of the best racers do not.
An unconditional desire is similar to unconditional love...it is unconditional, it is all powerful, and it needs no other fuel.
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