I set a goal of qualifying for Nationals in the next 5 years.
I qualified for Nationals in 2014 (for 2015).
In 2015, I raced Nationals and set a goal to make Team USA in 5 years.
In 2016, I focused on the Sprint distance. I made Team USA for the sprint distance that year. Yes, 2016....the year I set a 5 year goal to make Team USA.
In 2017, I started focusing on the Oly distance in an effort to make Team USA at the Oly distance.
In 2017, I forgot about my 5 year goal. Actually, I forgot that it was a 5 year goal.
You
see. I was getting frustrated with myself. I picked a very tough race
schedule this year to get me ready for Nationals. Every now and then,
I'd see glimpses of greatness. I'd do something incredible that I'd
never done before.
Mostly,
though, I had a growing frustration with myself over some things. I'd
look at my times and paces and realize that this probably won't be the
year I make the team at the Oly distance.
Over
the past 2 weeks, I realized that I let those small things take over my
head. I let those little things take over the fun of the sport. For
weeks, training had become an irritating chore, like doing the laundry.
I
stepped back for a minute and had to remember that I set a 5 YEAR GOAL.
I already achieved that goal at the sprint distance, FIVE YEARS EARLY.
The
Oly distance is excruciatingly difficult. Coach Liz says it's the
hardest distance. I have only done two Olympic distance races this
year. AND I PRd both races.
My times might not be where I want them to be, but Rome wasn't built in a day.
It's a daily, constant reminder that great things take time....and certainly more than 2 races.
