Theresa-
I am no expert but I have been doing triathlons for about 4-5 years now. I am doing IMWI in a few weeks; here is how I keep my mental focus.

When I train I try to find my race pace and stick to it; so when race day comes I understand that there are going to be people passing me on the S/B/R but that I need to run MY OWN RACE, these races are for you. Of course it's depressing to see people passing you but like you said the HIM/IM's are serious so you don't know the training the other people are putting in. These triathlons are supposed to be fun; I know most of us are type A personallities where we set goals and if we don't meet them we are a failure but the real positives of triathlons are not the times but: being healthly, positive and motivation for others looking to accomplish something.

The fact that you did a HIM regardless of time is amazing in my book. But your right you need to get some motivation/mind right before you get into a IM.

I don't know if you "like" this song but here is a Youtube motivation for us Triathletes that are in a motivational block:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnqpYKx8Fvk

Good Luck...

Thanks nyfan21. I know it's my race...so maybe that's why I was disappointed in myself. Can't wait to see everyone in IM WI. That might bring some motivation back!

First of all, congratulations for finishing an HIM! That is amazing. I have not done that myself yet. It is on my list for next year. I am curious why you were so bummed to see all those people running when you came off the bike and why it derailed your race? At every race I do, there are folks flying past me on their second loop while I am on my first and I always see folk finishing up the run when I am just getting off my bike. There are pros, elites, competitive athletes from other sports, people 20 yrs younger than me, all in the race. I am not racing against them and neither are you. Try and get it in your head that you are having your own journey and expect to see what you saw at that race. Then listen to your own body and give it everything you have. I bet you could have run that 13.1 much faster than you did if you had not psyched yourself out. Keep up the good work. You are a triathlete and completing that race is a true accomplishment.

+1

Great work finishing! It IS a long way, and 7 hours is still faster than 99 percent of the population can do it. Embrace the feeling of finishing. Let go of anything negative. Image how great it will feel with more experience and training when you do it again, likely faster.

Hold the positive thoughts, get your shoes/bike/swim on and move on to your next goal.

You'd be surprised at how many people have the same first experience as you, I know I did. Just finishing your first HIM is a great accomplishment and now you have a time goal to train against. My first HIM last year was a 6:17. I had the exact same thing happen to me in transition except it was in T1. Trust me, getting out of the water and seeing an empty T1 is not a good feeling to start the bike course with. Regardless, I did my race, had fun and finished. For the past year I've attacked my training with more dedication and went back to Boise as a tune up for IMC. With an additional year of training and focus I was able to knock my time down to 5:07.

Going into IMC I realize that its my first IM. So if I nail all of the goals I have floating around in my head and finish strong, great. But if I am once again humbled by a distance that my body has never covered, then so be it. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to drag my ass across that finish line.

You're on the right path to your first IM. The question is, how bad do you want it? In the end this race is about you and you only. It doesn't matter how many people are passing you on the bike or finishing before you reach T2. You're the only one who can get yourself to the finish line. So you have to ask yourself how bad you want it. That's what has got me through the past 8 months of training for IMC. Whenever I feel myself slipping I remember why I'm doing this is the first place.

Watching the various videos posted is also a good technique. Whenever I watch the videos, like the most recent IMLP 17:00:00 video, I can feel that chill run down my body and that fire within my gut start to burn just a little bit hotter (and no it wasn't the Mexican food). That's how I sharpen my mental edge, by remembering why I signed up for this crazy race in the first place.

I'm going to be completely, and brutally honest: Be positive and recognize your achievement (down to the very last success--I hear these long distance races are quite personal), or be negative and sulk because you finished a 1.2 MILES of swimming, 56 MILES of biking, and 13.1 MILES of running a bit later than some other people.

I'm not being a jerk.
You hit a nerve. this is my exact fear. I'm racing 70.3 in about 3 weeks, and your post is one of the reasons why I've been training. Granted I said I was going to train so much more than I actually did. Talk is cheap. Whatever. Not important. I guess i'm silencing my fears through your pains, and forgive me for being an opportunist on that one. I just want to find some positivity in it all--have fun with it. Having just finished, you probably are still emotionally charged about it all. So, you can either walk away and find some type of satisfaction in your performance, or get mad and do it again and again until you find the satisfaction you're yearning for.
I have read your post so many times; its just one of my biggest fears going into my next race.
+1 to you, and to all these words of encouragement; because you did it.
Congratulations.

finishing a HIM in your 1st year of triathlon training is HUGE!!! you have to be proud of your accomplishment! getting through 7-8 hours of endurance exercise is UNFATHOMABLE to most people. Tell your non-tri friends what you finished, the distances you covered in those 7 odd hours, and you will find looks of awe, amusement, disbelief.

You proved, in your determination to finish, even in your disappointment, that you CAN do ANYTHING you put your mind to. THAT is something you can take to the bank- in triathlon and in life.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! You guys are right. I did need that mental edge to get to the finish line...and yes...I'm proud of myself. Thank you all. I think I was in a funk with a big goal now behind me and not much else to train for. I hear this happens. I am really touched by your answers which is why I love this site. Thanks for the words and You-tube videos!
We'll see what IM WI does for me. Watched it last year, which is how I got the bug I guess.
And Amish...you will be great!
Theresa

Teresa, I am really envious, you actually did it. wow. amazing. Give yourself a pat on the back, no give yourself a hug and a bunch more pats on the back. ... I have no real similar experience, except my half marathon... I cracked on Km 19 and started crying like a baby... I finished. That's all I care about.

Well I have to admit that I think that a HIM finish, no matter how long it takes is pretty amazing. I have butterflies about my sprint on Sunday let alone a HIM. I applaud your effort, and hope you realize the only thing we are fighting for is living a life more fully. Think about the times in your life when you weren't doing anything to make your life better. I work in an ER and I 20-30 people a day who refuse to take responsibility for anything in their lives, let alone get up and do the things you've done just to get ready for this race. Congrats on your accomplishment, many good thoughts for your next race!

Theresa, you did great!
My first marathon and my first HIM were so hard, i barely finished both and hate to say it but cried at the end of both.
My finishing times still depend on how tough the course is and how i feel. My last HIM that i did 2 weeks ago in Door County, i bonked on the bike and was cramping really bad on the run and couldn't take full breaths of air, because every time i did i would get sharp pain on my left side in my chest. I though it was something wrong with my heart but i decided to keep going and if i happen to pass out and not finish then at least i would have a legit excuse. It took me 6 hours 23 minutes to finish it with the pain in my chest and cramping, but i finished, and nobody can take that away from me.

Fell good about finishing and i will see you this year at IMOO volunteering and hopefully racing next year!

Congrats, Theresa, on your finish.

When I have a "just finish" goal and I finish, I'm satisfied and happy. But I try not to be complacent. That's where goal-setting for the next race comes in. :)

Improvements will come, if you put in the time and work.

Congatulations on your HIM! Geez, I'm doing my first a stand alone half marathon in October and am sweating that. Never mind the 1.2 mi swim and 56 mi bike! You go!

I had this really great HR director at a previous job and she used to say this all the time, "Be compassionate with yourself." Most of us would never dream of being as hard on other people as we are on ourselves.

By all means take time to bask in this most impressive accomplishment. Congrats again!