Training versus racing...

What I like about triathlons is the "physical and non-physical" benefits you get from training and the "moments of Zen" you get from racing.

Training is so much more than building fitness in order to compete. I find the most important benefits I get from training is it keeps me mentally grounded, it gives me a comforting routine, it gives me time to think, and it relieves stress and mania.

For example, today was a tough day for me, I have one very important financial issue that I've been dealing with for over a month. Today it has caused me to ruminate to the extreme. I'm officially at the "end of my rope" with the situation. It's one of those things that I haven't been able to get out of my mind until there is a resolution.

Unfortunately the other party, for whatever reason, is not dealing with it in a professional manner and working toward a timely resolution. With my personality, I have trouble dealing with people that say one thing and do another. I think I need to buy the person I'm dealing with a "double billed" hat to cover his two faces and some "balls" to deal with it head on.

Before I left on my run, I was "seeing red". I was furious about the situation and near "the point of no return". I had thought of a potential next step, which is very drastic and will change my relationship with the other party forever. I was manic.

Going on my run was just what the doctor ordered. It gave me some time to think and gain some perspective. I was able to think through the "drastic" decision I was thinking of making and its repercussions. The run gave me time to think if I really want to "pull that trigger".

In the end, answer was "yes". I'm going to do it if things aren't resolved within the next day or two, but the best part is that I was able to think it through fully and feel comfortable with my decision with no regrets.

By the time I got home, I felt at peace. The run allowed me to blow off steam and think deeply about the situation. I finished a new person. I even had time to think of how I was going to do it. Before I left on my run I was thinking "emotionally", by the time I returned from my run I was thinking "logically".

The other great thing about training with a problem or emotional situation is that the training time goes by much quicker. You tend to think so deeply that you lose all your senses. On tonight's run, I actually overshot the turnaround point by a few minutes. I think I only looked at my watch once. I was also listening to a podcast and can't remember hearing one word spoken.

Racing is the opposite. It keeps you in the moment. For example, I was dealing with same situation during IMSG. The day before the race and the morning of the race, I was ruminating on this very problem. Like I said, it's been going on for a while. As I was waiting on the shore to get into the water, this problem was the only thing on my mind.

Then it all changed. The minute the gun went off I had no time to think about this problem. All I could think about was racing in the moment. For a very brief moment on the bike, the problem started to creep back into my mind and I naturally "snapped myself out of it" right away. To race well, you have to be in the moment.

I love the mental benefits I get from training and I love the moments of Zen I get from racing. In a practical sense I prefer training because life is primarily full of problems, decision making and internal retrospection and training is the best remedy to deal with those challenges.

On the other hand, racing is a nice break from real world challenges, it puts me in the moment and I feel like a kid without a care in the world.

The bigger the race, the longer my "in the moment" will last. The moment could also include the pre and post race festivities. Who isn't in the moment when crossing that finish line and hugging your loved ones, or looking at finisher's clothing or waiting to see if your name will be called at the Kona roll down?

Today was a hot one. I loved it. I swam before work and I ran in the early evening. In both cases, for the above mentioned reasons, the time flew by. On the run, I didn't bring water. By the time I got home I was so thirsty and water never tasted better. It tasted so good, I didn't mind suffering to experience that sensation.

Even though it was a slow run due to the heat and humidity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was my first run of the year in Ontario's warm weather. I love heat and humidity, it makes the air feel "like it's giving me one big hug".

Long Swim - 1:00:31 / 3000 meters

Mod Run - 1:47:48 / 19.70 km / 5.28