tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post1416710637350147377..comments2024-03-28T08:40:23.164-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: Trans Iowa V7 Update #15: Mental Toughness Part II and ObservationsGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-64016637353578241702011-02-13T22:23:47.986-05:002011-02-13T22:23:47.986-05:00It is all about commitment. I believe to be succes...It is all about commitment. I believe to be successful in Trans Iowa you have to have near perfect weather, months of training, years of experience and the willingness to be on the bike for 30 hours straight with very minimal time off. The hardest part of Trans Iowa for the average Joe are the cutoff's at the checkpoints. The distance is doable by a lot of the participants, but the pace that is required to make the cut offs is very difficult. You have to be relatively fast and have tremendous endurance. I was never a believer in luck until I finished Trans Iowa.<br /><br />When I started my fourth TI during version five and we had a perfect forecast I knew that I had to finish. I had to finish. Let's hope this year is another great year.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15290496161498555081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-28343108554750352952011-02-13T10:47:47.196-05:002011-02-13T10:47:47.196-05:00Yeah, Brian, for a TI rookie, you have a very seas...Yeah, Brian, for a TI rookie, you have a very seasoned perspective. I'll admit that I haven't given a second thought to what gearing I'm gonna use, b/c the gearing I used in TIv.5 and 6 worked well. Better to focus on important things... Like sustenance and commitment to purpose.<br /><br />I can't wait for this year's event. It's gonna be a great one.MGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-61385268222861967902011-02-13T01:20:02.697-05:002011-02-13T01:20:02.697-05:00Brian I can't wait to ride with you in April.
...Brian I can't wait to ride with you in April.<br />Ari <br />Sycamore, IL <br />Slender Fungus Cycling Assoc.Arihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13083766829086663770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-56480666334330323482011-02-13T01:01:14.612-05:002011-02-13T01:01:14.612-05:00I have developed Chilblains from riding all winter...I have developed Chilblains from riding all winter and having moist, cold feet. I will continue on and work through it. Keep your feet warm and DRY. <br />AriArihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13083766829086663770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-30360476057571699902011-02-13T00:03:47.832-05:002011-02-13T00:03:47.832-05:00I'm rolling into TI7 as a total rookie, I have...I'm rolling into TI7 as a total rookie, I have been cycling less than a year, and besides a few cyclocross races, this will be my first cycling race. I do come at this from an ultra running background however. One of the things I have learned from running 100 miles is to fully commit yourself to finishing. Know with every fiber of your being that you will roll across that finish line. Visualize yourself doing it. Stay flexible with your goals and know that there will be several bad times. The old ultra running quip is "it never always gets worse". The experience of powering through dark spots to emerge renewed is eye opening. The mind and body are capable of amazing feats and numbers like 320 are arbitrary when you know that you can dig deep and keep things rolling. 90% mental, 10% physical but both are only possible with vigilant intake of calories and hydration. Ambition, confidence and spirit can dry up fast if without fuel. Being self supported, it is going to be supremely important to have a system of easy eating while in the saddle. I have spent way more time tending to my hydration and food carrying systems than I have to gearing or tire selection. So, if anyone is interested in a rookies perspective, there is my 2 centsbrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06861104588355350576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-30646638427009604942011-02-12T11:53:34.858-05:002011-02-12T11:53:34.858-05:00Some good stuff here. I think there are some othe...Some good stuff here. I think there are some other key points. I have not yet attempted TI; however, have raced 4 24 hour races. I think that when it comes to events like this, some people have it and some don't. Even for those who enter the TI, who have trained the mental side, don't have the full mental toughness required to relax and push through. No amount of roller training will "make" mental toughness, only hone the capacity. Guys like Ek just have it (check out his account of last year's Dirty Kanza). It comes down to embracing the moment, focus on relaxing/breathing and fueling, and just keep the pedals turning. It's really important to not avoid the down times, but minimizing the depth of the down times. When you learn to do this, you've come a long way into understanding these type of things. Great comments from everyone! Keep them coming!Ben Welnakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00607380802350299460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-91958881421915710262011-02-12T07:28:40.300-05:002011-02-12T07:28:40.300-05:00I got an email response from Ira Ryan the other da...I got an email response from Ira Ryan the other day and he told me how Sean Kelly was riding his rollers for 6 hrs a day in his garage to prepare for the Roubaix and reminded me to never underestimate the power of mind numbing training and mental fortitude. I think this is spot on w/all the other good points listed above in the post. ThanksSeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724061485675283614noreply@blogger.com