Conference!

First, the details.

• Meet at the pool 6:20 AM
• Leave BNL at 6:30 AM
• Arrive at course by 8 AM
• Walk the course, warm-up
• Race at 9 AM
• Awards at 10:15 AM
• Be back to BNL by 1 PM

Yeah, I know it's an early start, but we want to be there in time to not be rushed. At all. 

Another thing - we won't run JV. Period. I don't care if they do wind up having a JV race (there isn't one listed on the info pack), I don't want anyone running it. Those that aren't racing are resting, with the exception of the alternates. 

There is a small change to the line up tomorrow:

1. Danielle
2. Carrie
3. Shelby
4. Alli
5. Morgan
6. Locki
7. Chloe

Alt. Bret

Alt. Diana

Here's the reality we face in the next two weeks - we are not healthy. I'm hoping as we reduce mileage things get better, but we must prepare for the possibility they won't. What does that mean? Take tomorrow. Keeley won't run, which hurts us a bit. But it doesn't have to. All of you girls are capable of moving up, and to be honest, you need to anyway. Sure, this makes it a bit harder, but you know something? Sometimes it takes an even bigger challenge to bring out the best in us. 

I attempted two Ironman competitions in my life. In the first one, I couldn't have been better trained. I was a machine throughout the lead up, ran terrific races, and looked like a lock. I did a half Ironman at the time which will likely stand as one of the best athletic events I've done in 35 years of endurance athletics. 

And I still died race day. DNF. Went into convulsive cramping halfway through the bike, and wound up on the ground in a writhing ball of agony. 

Of course I was disappointed at first, and vowed to not waste my time again. Then I thought about it. This only seemed impossible - after all, 2,000 people did it that day. There had to be a way to make it work. I might have done a great job training, but I would have to do a better job, and yes, face the challenge again. No way I was going out like that, no way I would have my daughters look at me like a quitter. 

That race wasn't going to beat me. I set my jaw, looked squarely at my weaknesses and determined what I had to do to overcome it. The focus went from what can go wrong to what can I control. One mindset is inherently negative, the other is positive. With a positive attitude and a strong conviction that you will do whatever it takes to accomplish a goal, there's really not much you can't do. 

The very next year, I was back, and the conditions were every bit as bad as the year before. It didn't matter. Was it tough? YES! But by focusing on the "right now", I was able to function and perform well. I didn't win, I didn't set records, but I was in control the whole way, and in Ironman, that's the ticket. 

What you ladies have before you tomorrow is your own personal Ironman - er, Ironwoman. Whether you're chasing an All-Conference (some of you are), Honorable Mention (some of you are), or simply improving your time, you all have to overcome your particular set of problems. What might they be? Inexperience? Training? Injury? Guess what? Very few athletes EVER show up to the starting line 100% .There is ALWAYS something wrong. Don't focus on that. Focus on what you can control. Pick three things to target, and take them, step-by-step. These are mini-goals that give you just enough carrot to keep moving forward. Do that, and the race will be over before you know it. 

The perfect race has to include total mastery of the body and mind. Keep your head in the game, and your body will follow.