I recently (November 2019) did a Spartan obstacle course race for the first time, after constructing and following a three-month training plan. Over that period, I replaced my Can I Do This? mindset with a What Can I Learn? mindset.
Can I Do This? sets you up for failure; it’s like training with a sword hanging over your head.
What Can I Learn? frees you up for growth and advancement. In my case, it got me thinking, “No matter what happens, I will create a baseline from which I can grow in the future.”
One thing I learned is that your mind plays tricks on you. For example, I learned that my preconceptions could be pretty off target. Others told me to watch out for the seven-foot inverted wall, but I ended up clearing it in one swing. That was a lot of stress for nothing.
I was very pleased with my performance… until the last three obstacles. By that time, I was pretty spent, and missed my first attempt on each of them.
Afterwards, I was eager to continue my learning and wanted to sign up for another Spartan event three weeks from now.
My wife convinced me it might be a better idea to train some more, before diving into another learning experience. Smart tip.