Trust your gut/heart feeling. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Its not WHY you feel that way. But its because you DO.

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

This weekend was all about frustration. Everything from trying to get home & having to detour en route, to becoming so close to 4 drivers next meal, to an unkind post, to an AWOL friend. My ride turned into “tour de frustration”. And I had 91 miles on the bike seat to get some of it out. While riding, I was thinking (yeah, there I go again) about frustration. I am sure I am not alone. We have all been there. Frustration can be bad. But it can also be used for good. How you ask? Well, let me share my humble opinions.

IMHO # 1) What. In order for us to turn frustration into good, we need to think what is frustrating us. Is the frustration a thing? A comment? An action? A person? Identify it.

IMHO # 2) Why. Why is it frustrating us? Is the timing. Is it the person? For me, the why was the timing. When I REALLY needed to get back, a detour caused those best laid plans to come to a halt.

IMHO # 3) How. How can frustration be used positively? Even though it can raise our blood pressure or cause the hairs on our neck to stand at attention, surely there is way that it can be used for good. HOW we deal with frustration is key. How do we react? Do we get angry? Do we ride/run faster (ok, that’s me I will admit)? Personally, after sprinting for a few minutes, I realized that the only person I was “hurting” was myself. The things. The other people. The detour. They were all in the past. I had no control over them. Even though it was unfortunate, if I continued to think about them, I was only doing myself harm. And let’s face it, there are WAY more important things that need my attention!

IMHO # 4) Forward. So, a little out of the usual order, but it is a key point. The only way to move past frustration is to move quickly FORWARD. The sooner you do this, the happier you will be. Well, it took me ONLY 91 miles, but by the end I knew that going forward I could put the past behind me. Brush off the negativity. Focus on the future. Remain steadfast with my goals. Going backward isn’t a healthy choice, moving forward is.

In the end, frustration will always be a part of life. It is how we deal with it that will make us a stronger person in the end. Just like my “tour de frustration” I could have ended it with giving in. But, I knew that if I did, I wouldn’t win. And let’s face in, I want to win. And I know you do as well. So, my friends, go win the tour de frustration!

Photo by Striatic

Last night here in the metro DC area we had very and I do mean VERY heavy thunderstorms. As I listened to the torrential down pour of the rain, the sharp & deafing sound of thunder and the very bright lighting bolts, I started to think…..which as you know is not a new thing!

Funny how everything unfolds. Yesterday was one of THOSE days. When I thought things could not get worse, they did. The storm became a hurricane and a class 4 hurricane at that. As I was dealing with everything & coming up with a plan of action(more like a plan of attack), the real life thunderstorms started.

Perfect timing. Not only was it storming outside, but it was storming in my life as well! Hearing the rain. Seeing the lighting. Feeling the thunder. The physical storms outside were just like life.

It seems that when we have all that we can handle, more storms arrive. The rain turns from a shower into a down pour. And there is no end in sight! Although a rainbow is supposed to be at the end of the storm, it sometimes takes a while for us to see it. Reflecting on this, I was thinking how do we deal with storms in our life?

Sometimes we can see them coming. Other times they descend on us without warning. How we react to them is up to us. Easier said then done I know. How did I deal with my “class 4 hurricane” yesterday?

To be honest, I freaked out. Then I stopped. Breathed. Closed my eyes (thank god I was not driving then). I realized that panicing & worrying was not going to help me in my storm. Only patience, time, friends and a deep breath were going to be my life lines. A faint rainbow is off in the distance. I know that one day soon, a VERY bright rainbow will appear & seeing that will be a very sweet sight.

So my friend, if you are in a storm, hang on. If you aren’t in a storm, start getting prepared now. One will be along soon. How you choose to react is up to you. Its not how bad the storm will be, but how we choose to handle the storm. And with every storm there is a rainbow.

Photo by MissTurner

Today’s tip is brought to you by questions I have received. And it is “race is a week away, what do I do?”. If you remember nothing else, remember this. Don’t change a thing (well, do taper) but please DON’T change shoes, socks, diet, your routine!

Get up when you usually do. Eat what you usually do (well, you may want to skip the beer/wine). And for Sarah’s sake (going to give “Pete” a break) don’t try anything new!!! And above all, breathe & be at peace. Race week/day is here. Training is done. Race your best. Then do another one:)

Photo by Lululemon Athletica