Let’s Admit We Have Limitations

Lance on balance on the three disciplines, and more in triathlons.

It is fun to think that, most times, we have few limitations (after we have climbed a mountain, or run the long race). It is so easy to allow ourselves to be misled by positive psychology (through self-help books and DVDs) to think that we can accomplish almost everything if we put our minds to it. It would be careless and irresponsible to run a marathon with little preparation. Sure you can finish it by walking fast, however you will not meet your goals, if you are purposeful about it.

It is easy to fall prey to the mindset and attitude that you can accomplish almost anything if you have made personal breakthroughs in your recreation and your profession. Completing a marathon or Ironman triathlon can place you in a place of perceived ‘most potential’, yet you can get hurt if you, suddenly, place unusual demands on your body. We can fall ill through extreme climate, tough terrain, poor nutritional assistance, and accident. Working through a serious injury or illness can be debilitating and destructive to your psyche and physical condition.

How do you know your limits? Sometimes, it is intuitive; other times, it is observed. I realize that if I train more than two days in a row, I may risk straining my vocal cords, and suffer a diminished speaking/teaching voice. Thus I now integrate a day of rest between two consecutive teaching days. The same goes for endurance training. I used to have one day off in a week, however I now have two days of rest for every 10-12 days of hard training. I am in my forties, and I learn that I will often take up to three days for full recovery after a hard race. On average, we need one day of rest for each decade of our adulthood if we indulge in endurance training and racing.

We place limits on ourselves so as to protect ourselves from injury, illness or death. Certain limitations are self-imposed, and training and preparation extends our reach for those limits. Train often, at specific intensities, recover fully, and you can challenge yourself to go faster, stronger or higher.

Congratulations, Clifford Lee of Singapore for qualifying for Kona in the Legacy Lottery! You will need to complete a minimum of 12 M-Dot series full Ironman triathlon races to be consider for this new entry. He will be the first Singaporean in years to have earned this choice drawing. We wish him well in his training and preparation.