Limits of a mindset

Tuesday I went out, intending to do one hundred kilometers.  I worked out a route which I thought was about this distance.
When I started, I felt that it wouldn’t be an easy day because I felt a bit down, but it didn’t hold me back.  Wind resistance is tough, because the wind twirls around so much that you hardly know whether it is with you or against you.  I followed my route, but to my disappointment it wasn’t close to a hundred! I still had to do thirty kilometers more.

By this time, I was fed-up with cycling.  I was tired and didn’t want to continue.  I stopped for a few minutes and reasoned with myself.  At that time, I was close to the gym; I could finish for the day and then rest,  as I had  done seventy-three kilometers which was near my goal.  Or I could choose to push through, pass the gym and do another 20 kilometers.  Even though I didn’t feel well, I knew that my body had the muscle strength to carry me.  Rochelle kept saying ‘listen to your body’, and my body was ready for more, so I did.   I didn’t have any pain. It was all about mindset.  I motivated myself by thinking positively,  but to get that mindset going wasn’t easy.  For the first five hundred metres I had to push aside the old mindset and build a new one.  Along the way I kept affirming myself with positive thoughts: I can and want to finish strong!  At the end, I did 94.01km.  I was disappointed that it was not a hundred, but it was still good!

This was the last opportunity to train long distance.   From the start of November, Rochelle said that I should take it easier.  I’m only allowed to do light training in the gym or short distances on the road, because I need to build up my strength for the race.

By Deon Labuschagne