The 70.3 Window - Part 3
“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.” – Hal Borland.
I would like to start talking about the Tour Colombia 2.1 that took place in Colombia throughout the week because it marked an event that is important for this journey, which is growing exposure and opportunities for the biggest sport in Colombia. For context, it is the biggest men’s bike race of the year in Colombia, because it is also one of the only chances of top-end riders to be racing in their country/region before heading to renounced races in Europe. The biggest news (and exciting) is a brand Nu team (that’s the name of the team) was able to take the 1st place from the hand of world-tour teams. And it is amazing news because it is a huge bet for the future, they were all patient and persistent to resist the push from other teams. It is a team that could be the resurgence of a Colombian team in the cycling elite. And it shows again that, if we were to invest in sport and development of athletes, we would get places.
This week has been a lot about patience (or lack of it) and persistence. I feel it has shown me how we are naturally focused on the need or want of achieving certain goals, that we know are coming our way, but we tend to rush and seize them, when maybe we could enjoy the wait and embrace the goals as they get here. I keep learning this during my training sessions because I forget to trust the process and get dragged by the shine and light of being able to say that I accomplished this or that and my body gently reminds me that it’s not the time to be there yet, that we’re building up and (the thing it always falls back to) that the beauty relies on the process. It is a way this journey has had of dragging me away from the flash of the accomplishment and focus back on each step. And each step is tough sometimes, it doesn't feel like enough and it seems short.
Which then links into persistence. By persisting in my steps, I will not only get to the goal, but just keep going towards wherever each step takes me. Showing up, being vulnerable and staying there, day in and day out, that is what has been changing me over the last weeks. And of course, what has also allowed me to get better in different aspects of the performance side for all three disciplines. Being persistent also entails prioritizing the space, which has allowed me to mold the trainings into spaces where I come together with myself, and check on me, ask questions and revisit thoughts, it even has reminded me about other work that I need to attend to after finishing. All that has taught me how to enter a space of examining myself and thoughts in a (very close to) non-judgmental way, giving me a sense of being closer to myself. Now where I want to take the persistence is outside of the training grounds, start applying it into the before and after of them. Which would look like understanding and choosing intentionally the goal of the training sessions and persist to see them fulfilled. It would also look like persistency on the after-training routine in the sense of taking care of myself and having a full recovery.
One other thing that was cool is the support has manifested this week in a couple training sessions with friends. Which I am grateful for because I enjoy being around people that by pushing themselves are teaching and encouraging me to push myself as well. It is a space of individual effort that is shared and that togetherness also allows me to go back to the process. I appreciate that and appreciate people offering such spaces. It is an honor.
The body is feeling it this week more than before. I have been sore for most of it, especially these past couple days over the weekend. Part of the job I guess. And the body’s way of communicating with me. More soreness to come for sure.
Numbers for the week:
Swimming: 4500m. Tough, a grind, and a learning curve.
Bike: I had to get my bike fixed this week, all good though. The static bike is still racking up hours on my legs and I can see increases in power output and cadence. FTP this week.
Run: 39km. Good balance between pushing intervals and long easy runs.