Mindgame

An Ironman is not merely a swim, a cycle and a run. That is to say, it's not merely a tri-athlon. It is, over this distance, a pen-tathlon. It is 5 events really, the other two being hours of dedicated Refuelling, and the Mindgame. The Mindgame is the most important, because that is what has brought me to the race, and that will get me through it, or not. The body, after all, is only as strong as the mind that drives it. Thought guides flesh. And focus is what determines my thoughts, my motivations, my determination. "Focus, just don't get caught focussing..." Focus and then get busy with the next part - the pursuit of those goals. The point is pursuit without focus is unlikely to win me the Fair Lady, or the Prize, or whatever it is I am after.

Today was one of those days where my body complained and my mind, reflecting on this, asked, 'Why?'

How I answer this question is instrumental. Do I look for feelings, do I reason my way into doing something, or avoiding something. Or do I use spin? Is it about faith, or just doing the work?

Here are some fun ways for me to calculate my chances for success:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

So, I conclude with mathematical certainty that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get me close, Attitude will actually get me there. It's all about attitude, so it makes sense for me to have a good one. Né.