The things we do...err...drink or eat to perform better

Next week I start 27 week journey in preperation for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 Augusta.  Having been through this rodeo a few times, I've learned not to veer off course with new dietary additions or workouts once you officially start.  The last thing you want to encounter is rot gut or an injury that derails you from the long path to the race. So, I typically stay the course with a very predictable regime that is battle tested.  

Now, the weeks leading up to the official start of training is a different story.  Its a time that I will move out of my customary comfort zone and test out a few new products.  This week, a good friend of mine, one whose opinion I value greatly, recommended that I try a pre-workout drink called Beet Elite and I thought I would share my review/adventure in chronological order. Enjoy!

Sensory Reaction:

1. Oh, Black Cherry that sounds good, & plus my buddy highly recommends it
2. Visual: Wow, that is a pretty deep red color😀
3. Smell:...Hard pause...WTF? Is that vomit?😐
4. Again, hard long pause
5. Beginning to question sanity
6. Big breath and pound it down
7. Taste: WTF? Did I just drink liquid vomit mixed with feces?  🤢💩
8. For the love of all that is Holy...oh the Humanity!  Why did I drink that?
9. Big breaths to keep from painting the walls beet red😵
10. Big gulp of water... better now
11. Above average pace on a 5 mile run with low heart rate🏃🏼
12. Hmmm, that BeetElite is not too bad 

All kidding aside, I had a very good run today.  Without question Beet Elite tasted absolutely horrible, however, I did feel a performance boost.  While it may have been coincidental, I was able to maintain my goal heart rate, while running a faster pace than normal.  As I mentioned before, my training begins next week and I plan to fall back into my very comfortable, almost boring, routine.  One that will be free of Beet Elite.  

Thunderous Silence - The Art of Quieting Your Mind

I should start this out by saying that in no way, form, or fashion am I a sport psychologist. However, I am someone who grew up playing competitive sports. One that struggled mightily with controlling the chaos in my mind during competition.

In a singular, as well as slightly narcissistic, sports like tennis and long-distance triathlons, the internal chaos of fear, uncertainty, and doubt can be crippling. I've often described my personal situation as something similar to the radio in my 1979 Camaro. It had dials that you tuned in the station and sometimes it would register it perfectly and other times it was just slightly off. I, unfortunately, was one of those kids that had a brain that struggled to get the station locked in. I would almost be on target but it was a constant struggle to clear the static. This manifested itself in sports when I would let the lack of confidence creep in, which often resulted in negative outcomes. Now I could take the easy road and blame my parents for the poor parental lifestyle choices they made in the late '60s and early '70s, and often I do. But, truth be told, it’s a waste of energy. I don't feel placing blame would be positive or necessarily changes the outcome. The reality is that I am the one who is in control of my situation, especially in my head, regardless of whether it’s sports, work, or life-related.

Two phrases I use quite frequently for my own personal benefit to help "dial in my radio" include "thunderous silence" and "quiet your mind". The juxtaposition "thunderous silence" to hone in the competitive fury needed to succeed and "quiet your mind" to silence the negative chatter and self-doubt that can ultimately creep inside my head during a stressful match or the latter phases of a triathlon. I'm a true believer that the mind gives out long before the body will and that there is always a "little more' in the tank than you might think to exist. The key is to put to rest this negative noise and forging forward toward your goals. For me, its reminding myself to quiet my mind of the chaos and leverage the thunderous silence to persevere. It’s my own little recipe of what most people call mindfulness, which is a form of meditation. Essentially, it's a simple and effective way to gain control of the fearful and unruly thoughts that can plague an athlete.

If you are an athlete of any kind seeking a mental competitive edge, especially a tennis player or a triathlete, two great books to read include "Tennis: Winning the Mental Edge" by Allen Fox, Ph.D. and "Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and the Greatest Race Ever Run" by Matt Fitzgerald. While they both center on specific sports, the value they deliver deals with the mental fortitude to win in any sport. I have read both multiple times and often refer back to them for helpful hints as I prepare today.

What strategies do you use to settle your thoughts?