For the longer stuff, the loneliness of the long distance runner / rower is very real. You're capable of so much more than you realise, and that's the fine line between believing and doubting as it's you against you in those moments.hikeplusrow wrote: ↑January 27th, 2024, 7:10 amI'm from a running background, and it had always puzzled me why elite marathoners did race pace training as intervals rather than continuous runs. The answer is that it's simply the initial part of a progression - both physical and, critically, psychological - the 'confidence' you talk about. So they may start with mile repeats at race pace, but they end up doing a HM at race pace - gradually transitioning, as the weeks go by, from intervals to continuous work.
I've had so many moments of doubt that I can't count them, and sometimes they're there for a reason, you simply can't do it, but more often than not it's your inner chimp trying to protect you.
When you know you can, compared to never having done it, those doubts aren't quite as strong as they could be, especially when you know you can go faster as well. It's a potent mixture to feed off when all you want to do is HD.
I think people downplay how horrible it is for someone who is exceptionally good to achieve what they do; I know I have been guilty of it when I'm knee deep in a horrific session. My pain is more intolerable than theirs, and they'd also HD if they were in my shoes
In reality, for example, that sub 7hrs 100k that Elizabeth did, or the sub 6 2k that Cam (btlifter) did will have been absolute torture in lots of moments, as they still feel the same as us, but their ability is higher along with their mental fortitude to endure. You need a bulletproof mindset along with exceptional fitness to be exceptional.
Mental weakness, like water, exploits the cracks and finds the weakest points.
Apologies to the OP for going off topic, but it's still relevant to 2k racing
) too. I've also been inspired by CBs recent sub 16 qualifying performance in Australia - magnificent.
