Two large inline marathons will take place this Saturday in two different corners of the world, Berlin and Duluth. For many skaters, it is going to be a race they've trained hard for all season. I remember the stress I experienced last year leading up to Northshore Inline Marathon and the goals I set for myself. All the more reasons why I appreciate the lack of stress this year!
Expectation is so tightly tied to an athlete's mindset. When I can harness it, it can be the biggest source of motivation and it drives me to out-perform what I think I'm capable of. However, when it gets the better of me, it can wreck havoc on both mind and body. This year I focus on transitioning to the pro category. I have few results-based goals and thus can easily treat every race as a learning opportunity. This change in attitude allows me to get the most positive experience and not worry about my competitors. Instead, I concentrate on what I can do in different race scenarios, learning how to deal with both good days and bad days. A very important lesson that I learn is smart execution of race strategies can happen in packs of any speed. Whether I am the strongest or the weakest skater in the pack, there is always something I can do to make the race interesting.
I am looking forward to racing with the girls in the pro women category this weekend. These are girls I've been racing with numerous times this season yet every race is unique. I've trained hard and smart for as long as I can remember. My conditioning is exactly where it should be. I'm well-rested. I avoid doing foolish things to risk injuries. Mentally, I am relax yet focus. At this point, I am as well-prepared as I can be.
See you at the start line.
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