You're A Tool (In The Good Way)

Retractable dog leashes are the absolute, hands-down worst item in the world. Of course, if you use them, I either struck a nerve or you won't understand why. Without going down a whole slough of reasons, primary reasons include the delay in being able to retract, they often have long leads, the person walking doesn't receive necessary feedback (the dog is an extension of you, after all), and they essentially have significantly less control than a standard leash. Those are just a few of many more, but you get the idea.

The relationship you have with your dog changes based on your type of leash. One that allows you to connect and learn about your furry friend will serve you both well for years to come. A retractable leash does not allow for that bond. The same occurs in Ironman. You need to really learn the self when prepping, training, and competing. It's a difficult journey but one that will serve you forever.

Many take shortcuts. They use drugs or rely on items that are temporary. When we do this, we don't learn what we really need to grow. This can go on for years, and it can also create a mindset where you never really know what is "true." It's essentially a copy of a copy of a copy. You lose track of the original, and every copy loses quality and detail, unfortunately.

One of the most essential items for success begins in the mind. Think of your "you" as multiple components, similar to a bike. A good saddle is great but serves no purpose if the gears are messed up. And if everything is in tune, checked, and in excellent working order, but your tires are out of alignment or not true, then eventually everything will be set to fail. Additionally, one must know how it all works. How many times have we seen people out at events where gear failure occurs and the person has no clue what to do? A big part of any event is understanding how everything works. And your mind and body are no different. If you wipe out, do you immediately get upset, angry, down on yourself, and give up? Or do you take inventory quickly, repair yourself as needed, fix the bike, check it quickly to ensure the same situation or problem won't occur again, and go? Many come back stronger from stuff like this. It's a shot of adrenaline and also a perspective of "nothing to lose."

The best way to know yourself is to take a few past events and recall how you responded. While you may not be able to go back and change anything, think about whether there was something you could have done differently. This applies to any aspect of your life, from relationships, to professional, to financial. There is always an opportunity, both in the moment and at a future time. Think about this while training, prepping, or even just planning on doing an Ironman. What kind of shape are you in? What actual gear/tools do you have? Are they well maintained? Can you improve them or adjust? What's training looking like? The goal is to push into discomfort a bit to move the needle, but not cause pain or hindrance. Otherwise, like that retractable leash, it might snap, or the dog might go too far away without the ability to recall, and you'll have other issues to deal with!