Discover Mental Well-Being – The #STRONG2014 Way

For some athletes, training and racing is about so much more than fitness and competition.  For some, the mental and emotional benefits (focused and less stressed), are great motivators for training and racing and those benefits carry over into all aspects of their lives! These #STRONG2014 athletes describe this well!

Dan

Complete my first 70.3

How my six weeks went…..well wow. I can say it has been hard to stay exactly on track. With kids, sick kids, work, and the broken foot flaring up there were always challenges and setbacks. That being said I did lose 8 pounds in those 6 weeks bringing the total lost since I was allowed to run again after the foot break to 14.5. I have been able to ramp up the pace on my runs and have now gotten my pace lower than it has ever been thanks to interval work on the dreaded treadmill. I have cycled more consistently than ever before and now feel very comfortable with that portion of the race. The best part of my training has been the days I get to run with my wife Kirstin or take the kids on a bike ride in the trailer. They are why I do the training and racing, to be a good example and make sure I am around for a long time.
Exercise is my stress relief from my very often stressful job and I can tell when I haven’t been able to have that time. Having the #STRONG2014 accountability helped during those days and nights when I didn’t feel like doing anything. I would think…I can’t tweet about sitting on the couch eating candy.
Overall I am very happy with how my training has gone and I feel like I am preparing properly and adequately for my first 70.3 in Kansas. I can’t wait until its here and I can put the demons in my head to rest that kept telling me after breaking my foot that I was never going to run again or compete.

 Stefanie

In 2014 I will…..

Find my identity as an endurance athlete while balancing time for family (something that was lacking in 2013 the year of Ironman Florida). I will also get back down to pre baby weight, FINALLY!

How did your #STRONG2014 go?

It was a great 6 week start to getting focused on my goals and the year ahead.

I am happy to say that FINALLY I feel back on track nutritionally and feeling like an athlete. This puts me closer to my goal of getting back down to pre-baby weight!

Finding my identity as an endurance athlete (without having a long distance race goal) is still continuing to plague my motivation. If I could just get mother nature to grant me a bit of sunshine inducing happiness, I think I will finally set into a rhythm. 🙂 It is taking a complete mindset change to be satisfied with “just” a 1 hour workout when my body is accustomed to Ironman Training. But I am starting to get the hang of it.

Less workout means more time for family which was my final goal and I am glad to say it is working. I even decided to start taking Spanish classes (A long term goal of mine). #Strong2014 helped me to feel rejuvenated and refocused on what matters for me at this specific moment!