Counting Down

I am now officially at the point of counting the days until race day, which is of concern since is actually still a little way off. Well a couple of days anyway, which is a long time when you are counting the time. Something about a watched pot.

I have found this before, I get to this point and get concerned that I haven't given the race enough thought, enough consideration. I then realise that I have been thinking of nothing else for about two days straight and then tell myself to relax. Far out, I just had it again then as I was typing that last sentence. I had this sudden stab that I hadn't done a race plan yet. I then thought about every leg and realised that I knew what I had to do in each one. I think most people call that a race plan.

In reality I just need to switch off about the race for the next 24 hours or so to make sure I don't get myself wound up too tight.

I am not sure what has got me so uptight this time around. Actually that is a lie, I have my suspicions. I have this impression that I haven't raced much in 2014. It feels like it has been a quiet year due to various injuires etc. The reality is that I have done more races this year than last year and most of those races have gone better than the 2013 version. However, the difference is in 2014 my perception has changed and what I expect from myself has gone up. When I got to Mandurah last year I felt like I could do a Half Ironman in my sleep, this year, because it feels like it has been a quiet year, I have more uncertainty.

Other factors are that my last race was a bad one. Challenge Gold Coast did not go well. I now have some very clear ideas why that was (groin strain anyone). But even still it is a hard thing to come back from. On top of that, Mandurah was arguably one of my best races last year. Everything pretty much went to plan, that is a tough act to follow. I have all those thoughts bouncing around my head distracting me from training. Frustratingly I know none of these thoughts are particularly constructive, but I am struggling to shake them.

Ironically I suspect I am actually a much stronger athlete now than I was 12 months ago, actually I know I am. My return to running has shown me that. I just need to remind myself now and then.

In the end I think a lot of the above is stemming from the fact that I am a little tired and therefore a little over emotional. I didn't get as much sleep last night as I should have. This time around I have nobody to blame but myself though since I stayed up reading later than I should have. Silly thing to do really. I suspect that with a good nights sleep things will look a little less stressful in the morning.

They usually do...