Australian Triathlete — December 2017

AustrAliAn triAthlete | 55

siri lindley

A world champion athlete herself and now one of the most revered

triathlon coaches in the world, Siri enables athletes to become the

champions and the people they were born to be. With an ability to

see things in people they cannot see in themselves, Siri is driven by a

unrivalled passion for triathlon and the people within.

http://siri-lindley.com

Siri Lindley

The Ironman World Championship is
coming up soon. This race has been known
to be an incredible teacher for many.
Although the student may not necessarily
be ready, Kona is ready to teach.
Last year, I was coaching a very
talented young man. When he arrived at
our training camp, I noticed that when the
going got tough, he stopped going. This is
often a problem with a lot of athletes. If
things aren’t going their way, they give up
and just let the rest of the session, or the
rest of the race, go downhill. Throughout
our work leading into Kona, we were
focusing on always changing his mindset,
so that in bad moments, he could focus on
technique and on executing, and get
himself back in the game. He was
up-and-down with sessions like this. I was
happy to see that sometimes he could
turn his attitude around and finish the
session strong, even though it started
poorly. But there were also sessions where
he continued to lose it mentally if things
weren’t going exactly as he hoped.
We arrived in Conifer, to race. He was
fitter than he has ever been in his life. He
started and had the best start he has ever
had. He was in a tremendous position and
looked to be ready to achieve all the goals
that he had set for that day.
Pop!
A flat tyre, one mile out of transition.
He stopped, fixed it, and maintained
composure. He got back on the bike and
started riding again.

Pop!

He got another flat, three miles in this

time. Again, he maintained his composure,

fixed the flat quickly, and was on his way

again. Mile five - pop! I was standing on

the side of the road and could see that he

had flooded. He yelled out that this was

his third flat. He had lost it mentally and

was very angry. He was yelling over to me:

“I cannot believe that this is happening to

me. That’s it. I’m done!” I gathered myself,

and sternly yelled back: “You are not done!

You must fix the flat, get back on that bike

and race your heart out from here to the

finish line.” “This race needs to know that

you can battle through any adversity,” I

continued. “This is your moment to prove

to yourself, to this course, and everyone

around you that nothing will stop you!

Today is the day where you wake,

overcome every obstacle, and find a way

to not only finish but to finish with heart

and soul.” He didn’t necessarily like what

he was hearing. But, I gave him no way out.

He was going to finish at all costs.

On that day, this athlete discovered a

part of himself that he didn’t even know

existed. He discovered that he had the

persistence, strength, and resilience to

deal with anything that could come his

way. The teacher appeared - the flat tyres,

and everything that was happening that

could have derailed all his efforts to have a

great day. The lesson was that no matter

what, you keep going!

In Kona, it is so very important to prove

to Madame Pele, and to the island, that no

matter what, you have what it takes to

remain strong, relentless, and persistent in

your efforts to conquer the course.

So, when you are racing in Kona,

have an open mind to anything that

could possibly happen on the day.

— Siri Lindley

When the

student is ready,

The teacher

appears.

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