1. Believe in yourself. Or rather, bee-lieve in yourself! If there's one thing I've learned, it's that we are capable of so much more than we realize. Sometimes there's nothing more powerful than a finish line, and whether that finish line is a real finish arch with a timing mat, or any other seemingly impossible goal you've set for yourself, believe that you can do it. Have faith in your determination, your resolve, and the ability of your body to adapt and surprise you.
2. Train like a bumblebee. This is not original to me, but I'll paraphrase it here. It's said that when viewed from a physics point of view, a bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly. His large body weight shouldn't be airborne with those relatively small wings. But the bumblebee doesn't know that! And so he bumbles along, flower to flower, just doing what he's made to be doing. The bumblebee isn't listening to the naysayers, and neither should you. The naysayers could be The Others, or it could be yourself. Tune them out, keep doing what you're doing.
3. Your hive is your livelihood, take care of them and they'll take care of you. It's so easy to get wrapped up in yourself when you say I "need to run XX miles so I won't be home", or "I have a YY mile bike at ZZ pace so I can't ride with you today" How many times have we left family and friends behind to pursue our goals of fortune and glory on the road and trail? Likely too many times. Keep in mind that your family and home are the most important! Missing a morning run will not ruin your race a few weeks from now. Reschedule, re-prioritize, whatever you need to do. But don't ignore the hive.
4. Yet be open to visiting other hives and fields. Never say Never. Don't say "oh I could never do that...", instead say "I wonder if I could". Why cut yourself short like that? How do you know what you could or couldn't do if you don't try? Back in 2006 and 2007, I used to say "I could never run a marathon, I don't have the mental tenacity for it". Since then I've done 3 marathons, 5 iron distance triathlons, and 6 ultrarunning events. If I'd stayed home at the hive or stuck with the same clover field, I wouldn't have the experience, friends, and strengths that I have today.
5. Heeeeeeyyyyy....Must be the HONEY! I'm not advocating that you start collecting nectar, partially digesting it, then regurgitating it for storage waxy hexagonal cells. I'm saying that you would benefit the most from bee-ing sweet to yourself and to others. Be kind to your body, take care of yourself with good food and rest. Be kind to yourself, taking care to stay buzzitive and calm in the face of challenges. And share that kindness with those around you, -- fellow training partners, potential training partners, volunteers, family, friends, coworkers. Be patient, be mindful, be open, with yourself and with those around you. Could we say that 'You'll catch more
bees with honey'?
6. Keep Calm and Buzz On. Keep the negativity out and stay Buzzitive! Life can be hard enough with having negative emotions, stress, heavy workloads, problems you can't control, and more getting in your way. Don't perpetuate drama and get caught up in negative energies, internal or external. Visit a few flowers in the fields as needed to find some calm. Spend some time in the hive for support and comfort. See Rule #5 and bee sweet to yourself.
7. Earn your stripes. Sometimes our goals seem so out of reach or we put too much emphasis on the fact that we did or did not climb that hill. You might be tempted to cut corners or inflate your work to impress others. Maybe you failed in your goal, and now feel the need to explain why. Bee honest with yourself. It's what you know of your accomplishments that really matter, not a finisher's medal or tattoo. Did you put in the work needed, did you make an honest effort, did you do your best and challenge yourself? Then that's what matters!
8. Listen to the Whisper of Rain. Meaning, sometimes hidden in the heats and fires, if you look you'll find your desire and the music, in the height and glory of the clouds. Ulmo, the Tolkien god of water, lamented Melkor's destructive tendencies. But Ulmo didn't anticipate the snowflake and frost formed by Melkor's bitter cold, or the mists and clouds formed by Melkor's undue heats. It took Melkor's actions to create these wonderful water formations! So if you look, or perhaps listen, maybe you'll hear the Whisper of Rain. A moment of beautiful sky during a bonked bike ride. Advice from a training partner when you don't want to hear it. A lesson learned from a mistake. So while you're on that road of life, be sure to stop and land on a few flowers now and then and
listen...
