Karen writes: Attitude

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Was it only a month ago that I could go for a triple figure bikeride followed by a run on a Saturday, then run 30km on the Sunday?   Yesterday I straggled through a 27km run, after building up the run steadily for weeks, and having had Saturday off in preparation I really had no reason for making such a mess of it.   There was far too much walking, too much (internal) whinging, and not enough of the body being an efficient machine which can pace out mile after mile with ease...I blame my brain.

And how do I know it is brain not body?  Nothing hurts, nothing physical feels the slightest bit of stress.  27km without a muscle twinge or tendon whimper...the poor performance was all to do with the HEAD!

More head stuff...funny how hard it becomes to find 5 hours in a week to train in when not that long ago it could have been 14 hours.  Or the motivation to stay off the V energy drinks disappears and they quietly sneak back into the diet ("just one to finish this report...that assignment...its been a stressful day") and before you know it the rubbish bin clinks when you kick it.  

The problem is...11 months is such a VERY long time to stay completely motivated.

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