Mind Over Matter – LIVESTRONG
07. Jul, 2009 
4 Comments
Over the past several weeks I’ve been training for Ironman Louisville 2009 and one thing is for certain. The mental aspect to this event is just as important as the physical aspect. In fact… the more I think about the strength of the mind, the more I realize how much our minds and how we think has to do with the success or lack of success in what we are trying to accomplish.
For the cycling community, July is a big month because of the Tour de France. The race lasts all month. This year Lance Armstrong is going for his 8th win after coming out of a two-year retirement.
If you know anything about his battle with cancer and his fight to find a cure for cancer, you will know… this guy wins in his head first, then walks it out with his body – mind over matter. I’m a liveSTRONG supporter and completely believe in what Lance is trying to do.
For me, recently I rode 100 miles with a group as a training ride for Ironman Louisville. It was my first 100 miler. This was a day I will never forget. The temperature was in the 90’s and the heat index was 117 degrees. Everyone on the ride had problems. The last 20 miles were the longest 20 miles of my life, but I got through it. How? Mind over matter.
During the ride I wanted to quit. I knew I could quit. It was too hot to ride. All of my friends would certainly understand. But I was determined to finish. I knew where the water stops were and I decided to take it on mentally. I broke the ride down into 20-mile sections and tackled them one mile at a time. I talked to myself, I paced myself, and I stopped on occasion to cool my core temperature down. My mind took over so my body could get through it. It was tough. It hurt. But I did it.
If the weather had been cooler the 100 miles would have been a lot easier, but when there is a major physical problem in the works like heat. Just walking to the car is tough.
Think about this the next time you take on a tough project, conversation, physical activity of any kind… over even a disease like cancer. What can you do to over come the struggle and finish well? How can you train your mind to walk it all out before you physically have too?
For some of you, life has some really tough times. You CAN get through them. Tackle life in your mind, and then tackle it with your whole body and soul.
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Best of luck to you in Louisville, Spence!
You are so right. IM conditioning is more mental conditioning than anything else. What prepared me for my first – Wisconsin, 2002 – was a) finishing a 50 mile trail race in May, b) my first open water swim in June c) a 2 mile swim race in July and d) two x 100 mile in July/August. When September and the race came around, I was either very mentally tough or very mentally tired – but it worked:)
Kevin
Hmmm, this is a hard one. I agree with you in regards to most things but battling an illness and just believing that if you tackle it in your mind you can tackle it physically bothers me. For those that seem to champion this idea and "win" there are just as many that succumb to disease and death and I'm not about to say that those that overcame were mentally tougher or wanted to live more those that lost their battle.
I'm not assuming you are saying that and I readily admit that this is just an area I'm sensitive to.
I'm not an athlete in any regard but my husband is and I'm always amazed how he can push himself to go faster and further no matter what the conditions. He also breaks it up into little goals and expands from there on long, difficult bike rides or runs.
This was a good post; gives me something to think about. I'm not dismissing what was written and I know there is much truth in what you wrote. Thanks for the post.
Tory. I understand. I have had friends and family members die do to cancer and it sucks. This post was written more for the training i'm doing for ironman and seeing a tie into how people survive very difficult times in life. I have never had cancer personally… but i have been through a divorce and having my head on straight and being focused was one of the few things that got me through it. In endurance sports, half the battle is mental.
I agree, I know what you were saying and agree. It's just the first thought that struck me so I wrote it but realized that wasn't your point but I suppose I enjoy being a bit difficult on blogs.