When you’re training for something big, you’re constantly making a bargain with yourself. Or, maybe “compromise” is a better way to phrase it. You have to be willing to give something up to get something in return, be that a PR or a win or a new distance. Think of it this way:
You (today) and you (race day) meet in some inter-dimensional spacetime zone. Today-you gives race-you a look and says, “Hey, you’re looking lean and fit.” Race-you says, “Well, assuming you do the work…” So you and you chat for a bit about training, the season finale of Mad Men and whatnot, and finally race-you says, “Look, this race can either be just what I’ve been planning, or it can be a miserable and dejecting experience. That’s your call, today-me…if you’re willing to do the work to prepare, even when it’s not easy, you will really enjoy race day. If you let yourself quit when it gets uncomfortable, you’re going to pay for it in the race. K?”
Training is difficult. Getting our bodies to do down the road things that they cannot do today is difficult, and requires pushing through some comfort barriers. Sometimes that’s a new weekly mileage number. Sometimes that’s a harder interval. Sometimes that’s an extra repeat up the hill. Again and again, our minds will want to stop the discomfort when our bodies have more to give, and that’s where this compromise is so critically important.
I like to remind myself of the compromise I’ve made before any workout I know is going to be tough. Usually as I tie my shoes (or change into flats), I say to myself, “It can hurt now, or it can hurt later.” Then I repeat that whenever I feel like giving up or cutting it short.
Make the compromise with yourself. What you commit to putting in today, you get back when it’s time to race.