Go with the Flow!

You push, pull, press, force, squeeze and pant your way through triathlon training to eeek that last little bit of talent out of your weary body, in pursuit of that finish line feeling and a sense of 'doing your best'

It feels like the biggest high to accomplish something you set out to do, to smash your goals, and come down that finish line carpet with a huge beaming grin on your face

But what has it taken for you to get there? What have  you put yourself through in order to wear that smile with pride? 

All too often in our plight to be the best, strongest and fittest version of ourselves, we loose the ability to let go. To really enjoy our training sessions, to take stock and see the scenery on your bike, to enjoy your weekends travelling on 2 wheels around your home town. As the great Chrissie Wellington (Ironman World Champion) said "I have to take the time to smell the flowers, not over obsess with what's next". 

I'm going to be honest, for me triathlon training has been tough recently and the more I am hearing about athletes emerging from lockdown, the more I feel I'm not alone. Have we forgotten how to enjoy the simplicity of training? We often use the term 'working' towards our goals, but in a world where many people are overworked and over stressed with the after effects of a pandemic, should we be more mindful of how we approach our free time activities?

So we set off for a long awaited 'Mini Break' a couple of weeks ago. We are preparing for my husbands epic Kayak trip so a test drive for the newly constructed campervan was much needed.

We headed to the cycling mecca of the New Forest, partly for the trail runs and beautiful bike friendly roads, but mainly because the Spaniel had asked for a holiday in the woods!

On the 2nd day, weighed down with doubts over races, training and a general feeling of 'losing my Mojo' (it happens to us all) I set off on a run that wasn't exactly in my training plan!

I thought I knew the route, having raced there like 100 years ago.  Well, turns out I didn't and very quickly got lost in the forest, on long sweeping fire tracks, as the sun was blazing down and lighting up the moors. After a few miles it was just me, the ponies, and dusty trails. 

And that's when it happened. I found myself, for the first time in a long time, in a state of flow. If you haven't ever experienced it, it's like being on a big high, where nothing around you seems threatening, you feel in control of the activity you are doing, you are at peace with yourself and others, you feel you are challenged in a way that you are able to excel in. All is well in the world!

Flow is a concept that was first developed in the 70's by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who described the state as feeling strong and  positive, not worried about self or failure.

Ok so I was only out for a nice long endurance run, at no particular pace, with nobody around me. Mostly this state is described in a race or competition setting, but nonetheless my version of flow that day felt incredible. I was reminded that sometimes we need to step away from the norm, the training plan, the effort and the stress, and even sometimes from home, and just go with the flow. 

So the next time you are feeling blue, or you have a lot on your plate, maybe you find yourself fighting your training rather than flowing with it, then give yourself a break and go in search of that feeling of weightlessness. It happens when you simply let go, and just enjoy being.

Have a wonderful rest of your day