%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%26quot%3BI%27ve+learned+that+the+great+challenge+of+life+is+to+decide+what%27s+important+and+to+disregard+everything+else.%26quot%3B+H.+Jackson+Brown%2C+JR.%2C+age+51+Triathletes+talk+so+much+about+the+body+when+they+discuss+this+sport.+During+training%2C+there+are+endless+discussions+about+heart+rate%2C+strength%2C+tendons%2C+etc.+On+race+day%2C+there+is+always+talk+of+cramping%2C+stitches%2C+the+stomach%2C+and+more.+Even+when+we+wax+on+about+our+heroes%2C+we+use+phrases+like%3A+%26quot%3Bhis+lungs+go+down+to+his+knees%26quot%3B%2C+%26quot%3Blook+at+the+abs+on+her%26quot%3B%2C+%26quot%3Bdid+you+see+how+cut+his+legs+are%2C%26quot%3B+etc.+It%27s+all+too+rare+that+someone+speaks+of+the+most+important+aspect+of+training%2C+racing+and+success+-+the+mind.+I+remember+reading+a+quote+from+one+of+the+Ironman+greats+%28it+was+either+Mark+Allen+or+Dave+Scott+-+forgive+me+for+not+knowing+which%29+and+he+was+asked%2C+%26quot%3BWhat+do+you+think+about+while+you%27re+out+there+for+hours+on+end%2C+doing+all+those+hundreds+of+miles+of+training+and+racing%3F%26quot%3B+and+the+Godlike+One+answered+%26quot%3BI+concentrate+on+technique.%26quot%3B+%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3EThe+more+I+speak+to+athletes+in+detail+about+specific+aspects+of+their+training+and+racing%2C+the+more+I+come+to+learn+that+most+folks+don%27t+have+their+head+in+the+game.+The+truth+is%2C+I+didn%27t+need+to+ask+anyone.+I+know+that+personally+in+my+own+races%2C+I+would+find+myself+about+halfway+through+the+swim%2C+and+I%27d+already+be+imagining+a+conversation+after+the+race+that+I+would+have+with+one+of+my+friends%3A+%26quot%3BI+was+the+first+guy+in+my+wave+to+the+first+mark%26quot%3B%2C+or+%26quot%3BI+never+got+a+chance+to+draft+off+of+anyone%2C%26quot%3B+or+%26quot%3BI+had+a+pretty+good+swim.%26quot%3B+It+was+so+absurd+that+I+was+deciding+how+to+describe+a+portion+of+the+race+before+I+had+even+finished+that+portion+of+the+race%21+We+all+invest+so+much+time+in+training+-+for+many%2C+12+hours+per+week+is+de+rigueur.+We+also+invest+time+in+technique%3A+reading+articles%2C+coaching%2C+watching+videos%2C+clinics%2C+etc.+Those+two+commitments+need+to+be+put+together.+%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3EDuring+training%2C+and+especially+during+a+race%2C+stay+in+the+present.+While+swimming%2C+go+through+a+check+list%3A+%26quot%3Bam+I+rolling+and+extending+upon+entry%2C+is+my+elbow+high+in+the+catch%2C+am+I+sculling%2C+finishing+completely+and+relaxed+on+recovery%2C+are+my+toes+pointed%2C+am+I+kicking+too+much%26quot%3B%3F+On+the+bike+your+mind+can+wander+everywhere%2C+but+it+should+be+focused+on+what+you+are+doing+-+especially+on+the+up+stroke+where+you+need+to+get+the+dead+weight+of+the+upward+leg+off+the+pedal.+Sometimes+my+mind+wanders%2C+and+I+catch+myself+and+bring+the+focus+back+to+perfect+circles.+As+soon+as+I+do%2C+I+see+the+speedometer+jump+at+least+a+half+a+mile+per+hour.+%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3EThe+run+should+have+attention+too%3A+Am+I+forward+a+bit+at+the+ankle+and+waist%2C+are+my+strides+short%2C+am+I+driving+the+hips%2C+is+my+arm+swinging+full%2C+are+my+shoulders+relaxed%26quot%3B%3F+Keep+your+mind+focused+on+what+you+are+doing+during+training+and+you+will+develop+great+technique+and+perfect+muscle+memory.+Stay+in+the+present+during+a+race+and+watch+your+times+improve+dramatically.+%3C%2Fp%3E