Non-triathletes who express interest in our sport often approach me and ask, "What do you think about during an Ironman race?"

That's a good question! It's a good question because there are so many things happening during a long course triathlon. With our "local" Ironman Lake Placid coming up next week, I thought I'd write this month's "In a word" about it.

By its very nature, the Ironman becomes just as much a mental and emotional battle as well as a physical one. There is so much chaos and hundreds of distractions all around you. The majority of first time triathletes who taken up the challenge of an Ironman triathlon train their hearts out, yet fail to realize the importance of how to approach the race with a plan in mind long before the starting cannon sounds. What makes the Ironman such a special event and such an amazing accomplishment is the ability it has to test and challenge every aspect of a person's capabilities. The Ironman is about so much more than having a perfectly toned body, the best equipment, or the ideal diet.

When you approach the starting line on race morning, it is essential that you are prepared to push all fears and doubts aside and devote your energy to the task ahead of you. Mentally you should block out all the distractions that could keep you from reaching your ultimate goal. Doubts and fears take a backseat to confidence, clarity, potential, and the possibility that something magical can happen beyond what you ever thought possible."

In Native American groups, the shaman had the power to commune with mother earth, to mediate between them and ordinary mortals, to talk with the souls on behalf of the living. The shaman, a man or woman, was often an extraordinary character, both in physical appearance and in athletic talent. In shamanism, blocking out all distractions is referred to as the space between two thoughts where your intuition takes over. It's a quiet alertness where answers come and life is created in just about any way you can imagine it. It is total absorption in making the unimaginable and impossible happen. It is the ability to let fears fall by the wayside because no room exists for them in your focus and attention. You are too busy functioning at your highest level to waste energy on being fearful or contemplating failure. Clarify, Adjust, Complete.

This in my mind is the very essence of this event and why achieving your Ironman goals is such a life altering event. Read these critical three words again.

"You are too busy functioning at your highest level to waste energy on being fearful or contemplating failure." Clarify, Adjust, Complete.

If you can make this a reality in every aspect of your life, you develop a better understanding of what you are truly capable of and see the world in a far different light. From the second the start cannon sounds, imagine yourself in your own protective shield. Have a swim plan in mind and stay close to the buoys. Stay detached from the chaos happening. Forget about fears and doubts. Focus on your mission. Let nothing stop you from reaching your ultimate goal. If a swimmer happens to crash into you, let them bounce off and carry on like it never happened. Don't fight him, most likely this swimmer is as nervous as you are, resume your calm, relaxed stroke. Stay in your own space. As the race continues, even more events occur and you'll find distractions everywhere. The marathon is the ultimate test of your concentration and determination. Almost anything can and will happen all around you. Busy aid stations, spectators yelling, screaming. People walking. Being sick. Passing out. Going to the bathroom on the side of the road. You could open your own tri-store with the bars, water bottles, and clothing that litter the course. Items that weighed little, now weigh a ton. You have blisters. You're hot and tired. Every muscle in your body hurts. Every part of who you are is being put to the test. Every fiber screams at you to stop now.

You are in your protective shield; the chaos is outside your shield where no distraction will keep you from reaching your goal that day. You have no energy to waste on negative thoughts or fear of failure. All your focus is on the finish line now as it gets ever closer. So prepare for the mental and emotional aspects of your Ironman. In the months before the race, especially in the last few weeks visualize yourself in that protective shield, your space, and commit yourself to focusing on the goal with no fear and doubts standing in your way and I believe you will be amazed when you discover what you are truly capable of. For those of you who are racing, you'll find me along the course on Sunday, just in case you forget to pull up your shield.

Clarify, Adjust, Complete.

Dream big,