An Ironman Mantra
An Ironman Mantra
An Ironman Mantra was written on March 03, 2023. It is the fourth of five popular essays from 2023’s Thin Slices, a subscriber-only segment of the Wiley Weekly Newsletter.
Each essay was first available to Wiley subscribers. You can subscribe to the Wiley Subscription for access to all essays here.
In July 2019, I trained for my first Ironman 70.3. I learned so much throughout my training journey, so you might notice I often talk about this race. I often talk about this race because I often apply the lessons and mantras I gained along the way.
When I first registered, my mom introduced me to her friend, Kathryn, who regularly competes. Kathryn was instrumental in helping me prepare for this race, the longest one I had ever done. She told me where to buy the best skinsuit and goggles. She recommended healthy, energizing snacks and drinks to consume while training. She consistently shared her wisdom, rooted in her personal experience, and this allowed me to truly enjoy 70.3 miles of mental and physical effort.
The night before the race, she texted me a mantra I frequently repeat to this day.
She said, “Be strong, and be smart.”
Be strong, and be smart.
Her words, be strong, made immediate sense to me. I had to muster every ounce of mental and physical strength within me to accomplish this goal. However, her words, be smart, didn’t make immediate sense to me. I wondered, “Be smart about what, exactly?”
As I stood at the edge of the water on race day, with widened eyes and a racing heart, it became clear what Kathryn meant when she said, “Be smart.”
She was telling me to be safe. Be aware. Be proactive.
Because of her words, I located the safety kayaks in the lake before beginning my swim. While biking, I stayed as far away from moving traffic as I could. I drank Gatorade and water before I became obviously thirsty. I was smart during race day, and I believe the micro-decisions I made throughout the day enabled the experience to be full of inspiration and joy.
Today, I pass this mantra to you.
When you find yourself standing at the edge of the water, be strong, and be smart.
When you need to make a difficult decision for the health and longevity of your business, be strong, and be smart.
When you feel, deep in your bones, it’s time for a change in a relationship, be strong, and be smart.
When you sense you’ve outgrown a belief or habit that no longer serves you, be strong, and be smart.
Be strong, and be smart.