It’s no secret-competing in Xterra is hard. The physical toll of training and racing is something Xterra athletes know very well. But the challenge isn’t always just physical. Mental aspects of the sport can wear one down as quickly as the run course up a ski hill in the Vermont Xterra Northwest Cup. Keeping proper perspective and attitude throughout race season, and the year, is crucial for maximizing all the benefits of a rigorous training plan.
Take the internet for instance. Athlete blogs and status posts abound recounting 5 hour mountain bike rides followed by long runs in mountains, 4 a.m. swim workouts with 4 p.m. track sprints, PR’s on 10k’s, and more. Knowing the activities of fellow competitors can be motivating to say the least. But when notions of a recovery day are put to rest after reading about super-achievements of others, proper perspective is lost. Without perspective one becomes vulnerable to the ill-effects of over-training. I realized (way too late) that comparing my training plan with anyone else’s is a mistake. Months, if not years, of solid training are behind a 20+ hour week of swim, bike and run sessions. Staying on the correct training-plan course is key for performance on the Xterra course. So while I am still motivated by posts from friends and elite athletes, I do my best to keep it all in perspective and stick to my own comparatively modest plans. High level performance develops by building strength and intensity over time, not over-night or even in one season.
Deciding what equipment and gear to use can also be a mental distraction. The amount of information available regarding mountain bike tires alone is daunting, much less all the other choices to be made when selecting gear. Technology has provided so many tools for athletes that deciding what is necessary, beneficial, or frivolous can be an impossible endeavor. There are GPS systems to track and record workouts, high-tech fabrics for super fast clothing, shoes for any whim or requirement, and bikes that defy physics! Wading through websites, articles and overheard post-race conversations about gear can be mind boggling, not to mention the astronomic amounts of money that can be spent. Is a $600 investment for a speed suit worthwhile? (maybe) Should I go tubeless? (yes) And what the heck is a “29er”? (if you’re short don’t worry about it!) Again, the seduction of it all is enticing. The trick is to stay confident with what one has, and not get sidetracked by what the other guy is talking about. A power-hub measuring power output on the bike is a great tool, but an intense training session will provide physical benefits whether exertion is estimated on a mental scale of 1-10, or read in kilowatts on a fancy device. Worrying about not having the “latest and greatest” is a waste of energy no matter how it’s measured!
Mental fitness is just as, if not more, important than the all the physical and technical aspects of competition. The latest technology and the best training plans won’t go far without the right perspective. Having the proper mental outlook is key in bringing all the physical efforts of training together. That focal point on the horizon is not the end. It is the beginning. It is the start of a new journey and a new set of goals. Maintaining the right attitude, focus and perspective is the best path to get there.