Entered

I just entered a race, not just any race but the Australia Stand up Paddle Championship. It was kind of a big moment.

Obviously it has been my intent to do this race for quite some time. That was sort of the point of qualifying and all the training I am currently doing. However, there is always a special moment when you actually enter a race, I have felt that moment numerous times in triathlon, and I felt it again just then. The, phew, this is actually happening moment.

Now that I have entered the race it makes the entire thing just that little bit more real. I always feel that nothing focuses the training mind quite like knowing that an event is coming up. Having the sense of an impending race is a great little motivator to get you out of bed on those cold mornings, get you finishing off that session when you are a bit tired, getting you nailing those threshold efforts just a little bit more. You get the idea.

All of the above is why I always encourage my athletes to have a goal race in mind. In my experience you can sustain motivation for a little while if you are simply training, but eventually that motivation and drive will start to wane. Having an event is a great way to keep that motivation bubbling and the drive, ummm, driving?

Looking forward to it.