Do I Believe?

I've had a few family members plan other things for the Blackwood Marathon weekend. This week, when I spoke to a relative, he said, "Oh! Are you still planning on doing that!?" as if he had expected me to back out.

And when chatting with a family friend about the event she more or less said she'd be proud to see me complete even just half of one leg!

Even Mat has suggested that I do only two or three legs, rather than all five.

Perhaps my nature or history might suggest that I would have backed out?  Perhaps there is so much doubt in my ability to complete that people would expect me to wait until I was "more ready"? Perhaps people don't know how much I have trained and that the timing seems to be now or never? Perhaps they realise that I would rather do WELL and therefore might not normally have tried to do such an event when I know there is every likelihood that I will, in fact, do quite poorly.

One of the first thoughts that comes to mind is a quote from a university professor Mr Swedburg, who didn't know it, but was paraphasing a quote from my grade 4 teacher, Mr Saas.

Mr Saas said:

If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it badly.

And Mr Swedburg said:

Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.

It's true, I might be underprepared. I probably am. I might fail miserably. But the fact is I have tried! I haven't given up, and I have shown more stick-to-it-ness in this last year than I probably ever have for any other thing in my life! And I'm enjoying most of it, even the parts I'm not quite so good at! If nothing else, I am enjoying the learning and lessons!

This article from Sport at its Best is quite timely. He is referring to a few quotes from Agassi's book Open, where Agassi talks about how he was treated differently when he started to win, and how fleeting the good feeling of winning was. The author of this blog, Duff Gibson, says:

That’s why I believe that at the highest level, very successful athletes are more about the challenge than the actual victory.  In other words, the greatest fulfillment comes from the journey rather than the destination.

How often have we heard that in one form or another? But it seems far more true to me now that ever before, because now I have really challenged myself on this journey. It's been revealing and interesting, and to take a word from Duff: fulfilling!

Do I believe I can do the Blackwood Marathon? Yes, I do.
Do I believe I will do well? No, I don't.
Is there every chance I will fall in a heap? Yes, there is!
Possibly not even complete? Yes, that might happen.
Does it matter? Nope, not really!

It only matters now, to me, that I TRY. I can't do any better than that.



"At least not this year!" she says with a mischevious grin... ;)

Thursday 14th Oct - 16 days left

Long live tapering!!

I didn't go cycling at 6am this morning. I responded to that request by rolling over and sleeping for an extra two hours! Ah yes! That was awesome!!

After work I went in the gym with the intention of doing a 5km run, but I just walked the first two kilometres. It felt so good to just move at an easy comfortable effortless pace and not push. I did run/jog the last three ks, and it still only took 44 minutes all up without putting in a hard effort. I didn't knock myself out at all, I just went with 'comfortable' and 'cruizy'.

Attack, on the other hand, was freaking INSANELY HARD and I was honestly tempted for the first time EVER to walk out at the end of the first peak. Seriously! And it seems like I wasn't alone. Somthing about the change of weather back to the more wintry trends just made everything a little stiffer, I think. Spring is funny, isn't it? Summer one day, winter the next!

I tried that new drink mix for recovery that was supposed to have a buffering system to prevent cramping. It's basically a powdered Powerade, and it didn't make me feel any better than a Powerade or Berocca does. It certainly didn't prevent cramping! It didn't taste too bad, it was meant to taste like apple, but I probably wouldn't have picked the flavour without seeing the lable. It just tasted like a sweet sports drink. For the price I paid for the 4 sachets that make only 1 litre of fluid, certainly NOT worth the money and will just use Powerade for the extra glucose and sodium recharge!

Now for another long, hot shower and early night! I have been sleeping so well these days. And am not even feeling stressed right now. I think I've just sort of accepted that I have done all I can at this point and am just going with the flow. What happens will happen and I can't change that.

Saturday - 9th October - 21 days to go

Up at 4am.

Feed horses, make feeds, cook for humans, pack ute, hook up float, load horse....

Try again... load horse....

Erg! Arg! Call for calm!

Load horse...

We meant to be on the road by 5:00. 5:45am we hit the road.

We got about 60km away, started to do the maths and realised we were not going to make it in time. Briefing is at 7:45am, ride starts at 8:30am. I need to vet him in at some point before 8:30 and he needs time to settle after a 2.5 hour drive.

Guess what time we're going to show up?

8:30am

hmm... I know that if you don't leave the start area by 8:45 you are disqualified from the ride. I don't know if you're allowed to ride the trail if you've been disqualified. We decide that it's an awfully long drive for an incredibly uncertain result, so we turn around.

I will ride down Police Pools with Mel and a few other tomorrow, so will still get some distance in.

The horses spent the majority of the day grazing in the back yard - there's nothing alive in the paddocks anymore, and it's not even summer yet. It is promising to be a VERY hard summer. We will buy a large square bale to let them have free access to roughage, and keep the back lawn alive and let the horses graze as regularly as we feel the lawn can handle.

When we got home Mat had a nap. He really needed the day off anyway, so I guess it's a good result for him. I took the opportunity to do things like wash my car and do ... I don't know, completely random stuff.

Later, we drove out to Lake Ewlyamartup to see if it will be a suitable training area for the kayak. I suppose if I don't mind paddling on water that smells like dead animals, yeah, it'd do. Iew! And it's only about half a metre deep at the middle. We agreed that a trip to Dumbleyung, though further, might be a better location. Dumbleyung is deeper, so even though it's also very low this year, we are hoping it won't smell quite so bad.

And then I had a nap. And Mat had another nap.

It was really hot and there was a viscious dry wind today. Although we spent most of the morning outside, after lunch when that wind picked up and the heat got over 30 we hid inside.

I guess I have another challenge with the weather now. As it is warming up, and far more quickly than typical, I will have to adjust to doing all this good stuff in the heat. That means more hydration challenges. I've bought a few different hydration mixes to experiment with over the next few days. I noticed on Thursday night that I felt really 'sloshy' and uncomfortable when I rehydrated after the run and during Attack. I've got a mix that says it has a 'buffering system to prevent cramping'. Guess we'll see.

And I'm having trouble with the clothing issue! My crop tri top chafes like a bugger. I went to SportsPower, our only sporting goods store, and they only have the exact same crop top like I already have. Even going up to a size 14 it still fit wrong. The cut is just too close under the armpit. My best fitting shirt that I could also swim in is way too hot to wear in this weather. Though it's wicking, it's a full torso top and it's far too thermal! Don't know what I'm going to do there. Trip to Albany? Yeah, but when!?
 
Both Mat and I can't wait until the Blackwood is over. I may be training for an IronWoman event, but this is certainly not an individual effort. Without the support of Mat, especially, and my friends, family and co-workers, I would not be where I am or as close as I am. I owe so much to Mat... I am so grateful for his support.

I'm Scared!

There's not long to go now.

13.5 weeks.

94 days.

And so much to do.  The numbers are getting bigger, the times longer, the challenge greater...

And I'm scared!  I'm starting to become overwhelmed by it all.  In a paralysing kinda way. 

The sheer magnitude of what I am undertaking is now staring me right down the barrels.  I can see VERY clearly the end goal. I can genuinely feel how much work this is going to be. And doubt is not just creeping in, but really snaking in, and wrapping itself around my chest, and squeezing.

Right now, when I think of the end goal, I can't see past the work in the way of accomplishing it, and although I know in a logical way that if I stick to my plan, and work the numbers and focus on my diet as I have been, that I can and will succeed at crossing the finish line.  The problem is that the heart doesn't give a damn about logic! 

I am at an impasse. I'm not sure how to unravel the fear and keep pushing forward. I mean, I am sure I will figure it out, but wow, what a terrible thing to be caught in these invisible clutches and unsure how to get out.

I suppose little-by-little, day-by-day, is really the answer.  Just making myself get out there and do it. One little hurdle at a time should build my confidence in my ability to complete the biggest hurdle of them all.  And knowing that I really only have to do 'the day' one event at a time. 

What would I tell a client in this situation?

• Consistency is the key success.
• Work in small steps to reach big goals.
• Focus on the desired outcome (the exhilaration of completing!)
• Work your plan.
• Modify when you need to.
• Rest and Reward yourself for your hard work.
• And be nice to yourself: try to turn every negative thought into a positive thought!

So, here I go!  

What's that old adage?  Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's about feeling fear and doing it anyway.

Or, in the words of Nelson Mandela:

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Wish me luck, and all kinds of other good things! :) 

Two Hours Continuous?

Was I was biting off more than I can chew!?

Two hours of continuous exercise five days a week is a bit of an elusive goal, it seems.  Okay, I've only been working towards that for a few days, but so far, I've only managed that one day of cycling on the trainer.

Better to be positive!  I can and I will do this, I am capable, I just need to work harder to achieve it!

On the positive notes, I have done three days of very intensive gardening, for no less than 3 hours each day, and that sure felt like exercise to me.  This was no 'pottering amongst the petals' but weeding, digging, mulching!  Lots of wheelbarrow and shovel usage!  And I was quite sore after each bout of gardening, but highly satisfied with the results. So though I won't count it towards my training, I will call it low intensity long duration endurance activity! :)

Last night I obtained a paddle, so I paddled for 5 minutes, and really felt it in my shoulders.  That will take some development, so I am glad I have the paddle now and am not just going to jump in unprepared at the race.

I went for a bike ride today with Helen, Sue and Steve.  It was 3 degrees at 9am, and upon our return it was only 9 degrees.  It was cold, but a bright and sunshiney day with not too much wind.  We did the Police Pools Road, which is about 25km return, and I struggled to maintain a 27km/hr average with the group.  They frequently had to drop back, pick me up, and I'd keep up for awhile, then fall back.  I felt laboured in my breathing and just generally 'not strong'.  Every day is different, so I suppose that's what happens.

We are planning to ride to Kojonup - 45km with good hills and usually a strong head wind - on Sunday, leaving at 6am, and hopefully arriving at 8:30am, and enjoying breakfast at the Road House. Most of the group will also be riding back after breakfast, but, although I was saying to Steve at the start of the ride this morning, "that 60km ride really boosted my confidence", I am now doubting my ability to stick with the pack for the ride out, let alone the trip back.  I guess we'll see.  If worse comes to worse, I can call Mat and he can come pick me up, right? If less than worse comes, I'll just take longer and do it at my own speed.

I was going to follow my bike ride this morning with a run for up to 1 hour (aiming for that two hour goal), but I wasn't feeling that great so I just did the 1.8km loop at the race track and followed that with 7 minutes of paddling.

Positive thoughts for today:
- I went for the ride, I did what I promised myself I'd do!
- I listened to my body and worked with the energy I had!
- I am developing great shoulders and improved upper body strength by paddling!

There is so much good in the world!

Just a short note, a link and a few unfinished thoughts...

http://operationbeautiful.com/

Operation Beautiful.  What a good idea!  There's been a lot of discussion on negative self-talk in many of the blogs I follow.  It's a killer of self-esteem, power and the ability to succeed.

The general message: misery loves company, and misery gets stronger if left to roll along unchecked!

We are all bombarded by enough negativity, and most of it comes from within us!  We do this to ourselves!

Operation Beautiful, and many other great sites talk about the power of positive self-talk, about being your own champion, and singing your own praises!

It's time to talk to yourself they way you'd talk to your best friend, with praise and love and excitement and encouragment.

All About Saturday

Yesterday I cleaned TKs leg, which was still scabby from where he got poked with a stick back in March, and was very dismayed to see that the penetration wound was enlarged, rather than getting smaller. So I decided to go up to the vets and see what to do about it. We scheduled an appointment for 5pm and when she shaved the wound area and examined it, it was very clear that there was a foreign body in his leg!  So, he's had the area cleaned, a strong shot of antibiotics and surgery is scheduled for Monday morning at 9am.

In the meantime, I did lunge TK, rather than ride him, and he was a bit obstinate and it took a bit of effort to get him to just trot on command. He gave a good kick out at one point, and tossed his head lots. I guess he was fired up, or otherwise a bit disgusted with working after a two week spell.  In the end with did a bit of work on dropping his head.  That went well and he was all relaxed and loose lipped at the end.

At 3:30 I went for a bike ride!  Outside!  Yep outside!  It was only 11.5 degrees and I didn't freeze or anything!  I was cold, yes, but kept very warm with a vigorous ride. I rode 26km all up (just down Police Pools and back) and I was very surprised at how far it seemed! hehe How quickly we forget!  But I rode out well.  Nice and strong, probably a 25-27km average, but came back into a bit of a wind, which slowed me down considerably, but kept the work load high. I found it ironic that I could be both so sweaty and so cold at the same time. I will be doing the same ride tomorrow.  Bring on the Tour!

The rest of my day was filled with mundane tasks: bringing in wood, feeding the animals, laundry, floors, dishes, and groceries.

I also started keeping my food diary, and was making much better food choices. I got my two fruit today, but only one and a bit vegetables. One dairy. Not too much sugar, only two cups of tea. Lots of water. Ah so much better! The only worry I have now about the diary is that as I am not responsible to anyone but myself, if I don't complete it there will be no consequence.  An interesting problem!

I'm also trying to be a more positive thinker (I am a positive person, but want to be more so and more successful as a result), so here is a list of 5 successes for my day:
1) I didn't overreact to the leg wound.
2) I ate good food!
3) I went for a bike ride outside!
4) I went for a bike ride outside! (this counts for two! hehe)
5) I had a great training session with TK.
6) My house is nice and clean and has a nice warm fire going! (needed a 6th to be fair!)

Tour de Katanning

So for those into bikes, the biggest of the big, the hum-dinger of 'em all, the Tour de France starts this weekend.

I never really cared much for it. What's so interesting about watching guys pedal on TV?  I find it about as interesting as soccer or cricket.  I love the highlights, but don't really need all the boring commentary in the middle.

But we have many a cycling nut in Katanning and I have been sucked into the melee, and am now doing 300km in the next two weeks during the Tour de France as part of a team effort to travel the distance of a single competitor in the Tour.

It's actually pretty cool.  Katanning has organised two teams (mine's going to win!) and Wagin and Kojonup have both put in teams, too.

Starting Saturday, every kilometre I do won't just count towards my training, but towards my teams' goal of 3600ish kilometres.  Time on the trainer is granted as the equivalent of 25km/hr, so I should be able to do 50-75 trainer km per week easily, and then will do two outside rides each weekend, of 30-45km each.  I think that'll add up to my 300.

I can't believe I am going to ride outside!  It's freezing! Will the madness never stop!?

Wait.

I am reminded, now, that I am in Australia (how could I forget?!).  Yes, it is the middle of winter, and the temps are only getting close to 15 at their warmest each day (past 5 days: 14, 14, 13, 14, 12). It cools to 0 or so overnight, but probably averages 10 for most of the daylight hours.  It comes with cold winds and rain, yes.  But, hey, there isn't any snow, so what am I complaining about!?

If this was winter in Canada, first of all, if it ever hit 15 in the middle of winter we'd all bust out our shorts and T-Shirts!  Second of all, it's minus 15 all the damn time and there's snow and ice everywhere.  And although I was among the Canadian hibernators, many people were still very active in the winter.  In fact, even I ran along the river in Calgary through the winter.  And all I am experiencing here in Australia right now is Canadian spring weather.

The point of these wandering thoughts on the weather?

A reminder to myself:

Toughen up cupcake, it's only weather, and it could be worse!

My Week in Review - Week 8

Monday – Today is a public holiday in Western Australia! Wicked!
  Planned: 3: Balance training, ride horse, 5km run, paint front hallway
   Actual: 0

• No horse ride due to lameness.
• In fact, I did NOTHING I planned today! I rested, I cleaned, I vaccuumed and mopped and did laundry. And I slept.

Tuesday
  Planned: 1: Circuit, physiotherapist apointment
   Actual: 1

• Circuit! Yes, awesome! So much fun!
• Physio told me that it's not actually my deltoid, that's just referred pain from a tendon or this little dohickey thingey that give my muscles a cushioned gap to sit in. Everything is pinched and if I keep hurting it, I will really wreck it. Rest it, avoid the things that hurt.

Wednesday
  Planned: 4: Balance training, ride horse, run 5km, teach balance
   Actual: 3.5

• No horse ride due to lameness :( Still :(
• 5km run – knee pain, modify plan for tomorrow, another 5km until knee stands up to longer durations
• Balance training – one really really good hour. Wow that back track'll kill ya if you let it! And then a short break and another solid 30-45 minutes on just my tracks. Obsessing about warmup. Going to call this 1.5 sessions.
• Taught Balance.

Thursday
  Planned: 3: Teach Balance, Balance training with Kirsty, run 12km (modify to 5km), Attack if arm okay?
   Actual: 2

• Taught Balance.
• Balance training with Kirsty.
• No run, got late and dark. Wished I had a treadmill!
• No Attack, excused for medical reasons :) (dickey arm)

Friday
  Planned: 2: Circuit, 10km night walk practice for rogaine
   Actual: 2

• Circuit was pretty poor. I only did about half the circuit, and mainly just the cardio stuff. Warmed up enough to take off some of the layers, but didn't really get a workout. No points for this one!
• Ran 5.5km on treadmill, building speed with BPM increases to the music (thanks for this tip, Dana!!). Had to pull out half-way through Layla at 11km/hr at about 33 minutes. Built up steadily from 8km to 11km over 30 minutes, and the last 5 minutes were pretty much killer! Great workout! Knee did start to object by the end, however, I don't usually run at that speed out on the road, I average about 9.5, so I kinda understand why it went "hey, this is HARD!"
• Walked 10km in the cold and the dark up Balligan Hill (or something like that) with Mat, Ella and Marianne for a Rogaine training walk. Mat and I really do need proper hiking shoes/boots. It was cold, but a nice walk. We had heaps of fun together!

Saturday
  Planned: 2: Work morning, Balance Training, run 14km (modify to 7km to rebuild knee strength)
   Actual: 1

• Worked, then had a 2 hour nap, and then blogged about the crazy thoughts in my brain.
• Then mowed the lawn, collected a load of fire wood, and did the dishes. Ah! I feel better now! I have clean dishes and can cook something!
• Balance training! Really feeling great about this one. Only one track I didn't feel like I knew well enough. Awesome. This one is sinking in very well!

Sunday
  Planned: 2 or more: Balance Training, Horse ride, run? (If feeling up to it, 12km) Bike? Row?
   Actual: 1

• Started painting front hallway. Thus far this only means washing all the walls and filling the holes. Due to the wintry weather and cool interior (even though it's around 13 degrees inside today, NICE!) however, the stuff isn't drying in the 30 minutes it predicted. It's been about 2 hours so far, and will probably be several more before any painting takes place. And there's sanding to do, and rewashing... so probably no paint on the walls today.
• I went and rode TK bareback for a few minutes. Then ended up on the ground!  It was really windy, he's had a week off, he's feeling his oats. So I knew I couldn't hop straight on, and I lunged him until I felt I had his respect and attention, and then got on.  We did a little walking, but Nero was a shit-bag, all stirred up, kicking and lunging at us, and because of the wind, we couldn't tell when he was coming. Add to that the odd sound of someone seeming to be right next to you, talking, all because their voice carried on the wind from the playground across the road, and the guys at the race track driving their little remote control cars, well it sure made for a stirred up ride!  Still, he has to be able to be ridden in any conditions! I held on for one Nero attack, and spook, and stopped and waited till all was calm and demanded that he walk quietly, but it was not to be. Very shortly after stepping back off at a walk, I landed firmly on both butt cheeks, but held onto him, got him lunging in circles and then walking quietly beside me again. I didn't get back on. I know, everyone says to get straight back on, but from experience, I believe common sense should prevail: it wasn't safe to ride him with Nero acting like that around us.  I had him in control and was content with that for an ending for the time being.  Booked a riding lesson with Chris.

The best thing(s) that happened this week: 

1. TK's leg is healing and I am relieved to know he's going to be just fine!
2. Mat and I got out and socialised and did something together this week, and it was really fun to take a break from work!

Planned: 17
Actual: 10.5
Success Rate: 61.7%

Jumbled Up

I have a lot on my mind. I have a lot going on, and I think I have a lot to say, but it's all jumbled up.

In no particular order, things on my mind:

I've been dealing with the shift, once again, from a positive to a negative mind-set. I could feel the frustration coming at work on Friday, the desire to lash out rising in me again, and I didn't like it, so have been reflecting on trying to get back to that quiet calm me.  I had been feeling really mellow, in control, relaxed.  Yes, relaxed is the right word.  No matter how busy I was, I didn't feel stressed, rushed or panicked. It was nice. I did some NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) with a friend a few weeks ago, and although it seemed a little corny, and was sometimes confronting, it did really level a few things out in me mentally and emotionally.  Seems I might be in need of a 'touch up' or something.

And I've been looking around at my house, wondering when I did dishes last, or went for groceries last and can't help but wonder what I've been doing this last week!  Despite writing down a little bit of a daily note that I post up as my weekly update, and reflecting on what I have done for workouts each day, I haven't felt like I've actually been all that busy. So where has my time gone?  Why do I have dishes filling the entire kitchen counter?  Why didn't I notice that we were running out of bread? How come I haven't cooked my chilli chicken yet?  What are we going to eat?  You can't tell that I washed the floors, and the pile of clean laundry on the couch is starting to get worn, which means that the pile of dirty laundry in the basket is growing!  Ah, the never-ending house work problem.

I know some of this stress and delay comes from the fact that I haven't had running water three mornings this week - the pipes have frozen solid! But that shouldn't stop me from doing dishes once they thaw and I get home from work.  But I've come home from work so tired I've gone nearly straight to bed! I have had pretty productive days, and they have been pretty full, and have often had to spend an extra hour or so at work for various reasons this week.  But I am often leaving in the cold and dark and/or returning in the cold and dark. Maybe the cold just makes me want to hibernate?

I have also felt the frustration of having an unfinished house rear its ugly head again and again.  Since the weather turned it has highlighted the many faults of our home. No insulation, missing cladding on the exterior wall, exposed water pipes, and heat escaping through the gaps in the floors. I know house are built for summers and not winters here in Australia, but it is very annoying to have to wear layers inside, which can be removed once outside.  It is frequently several degrees warmer outside than in!  Not a nice feeling to a Canadian, who always wants to feel comfortable inside!

And I have been missing my family. My sister is building her house and both Mat and I wanted to be there to help her, and it'll be all done and dusted before we even get close to Canada again. I miss my Mom and grandparents.

My workouts have been going reasonably well.  I have been disappointed with my arm injury, but am quite content to work around it and prevent further damage. I was sad to have a hurt horse, but he seems much better today!  I am really wanting to go to Bunbury to buy my bike toys so I can enjoy riding my bike again!

Mat and I have been working so much we hardly see each other, and we're both so exhausted, we barely speak.  Or when we speak, we're both focused on our own problems - we frequently have what I think of as parallel conversations: he talks about the header front he's working on and I talk about the horse's leg; he talks about the price of shipping steel rod from Perth, and I talk about how the person who booked that big event kept changing their mind, and so on.

Today, Saturday, after working for only 4 hours, I came home so tired I needed a 2 hour nap!  I just feel I should be able to do better, to do more.  You know?

I will probably feel better if I knock a few things off my to-do list. So, where to start on that list of mine?
- Horse ride
- Run
- Dishes
- Floors
- Laundry
- Balance Training
- Groceries (can't be done until Monday morning now, everything closes after 1pm on a Saturday - welcome to Oz!)
- Cook
- Mow the lawn (weeds)

Despite the lovely weather outside, I think I am going to start with dishes. They are a constant nagging reminder... they make me feel ... hmmm ... mismanaged?  That's the best I can put it.

I might try mowing the lawn and then just a 10 minute bareback ride on TK before the dark falls. I only have about 2 hours of light left.  I can run tomorrow, and hopefully I am full of vigour then!

Reasons To Run

I found this awhile ago, and to me, these reasons 'feel' better than all the physical benefits lists (bone density, strength, flexibility, heart health and so on).  I like the idea of changing focus for each month, too.  It doesn't have to be "to run" either.  It could be any physical activity you enjoy!

January - New Beginnings
February - Efficiency & Strength
March - Health & Vitality
April - Achievements & Satisfaction
May - Feel Good Factor & Adrenaline Rush
June - Variety & Stimulation
July - Fun & Participation
August - Adaptability & Versatility
September - Sociability
October - Appreciation of Nature
November - Simplicity & Independence
December - Weight Loss & Maintenance

What 'feel good' reasons do you have to exercise?

Just one question...

I got asked this awhile ago in a course and I am really stuck.  So thought I would share and see how you respond to the following:

Name two things you are incredible at.

Not 'good at', not 'okay at', but INCREDIBLE at.

Wow, how hard is that?

I am really struggling.

The interesting thing is that we could name a million things we are horrible at, but don't focus or remember or can't seem to find the positive!  Part of this may be because even if others think of us as incredible at something, we still want to be better at that thing.  We may see the problems or errors in that thing we are incredible at where others cannot.

So, I think one thing I am really good at (I hesitate to use incredible) is seeing two dimensional drawings in three dimensions.  I really can look at a floor plan and to a great extent a contours map, and build it up and 'see' the inside, the rise and fall, the edges and walls.

I also think I'm a very good goal setter (again with the hesitation to use incredible... interesting). I can set a goal and work well backwards, formulating the plan and the tools and everything to make the progression forward.  I'm not necessarily the greatest goal achiever but that's a different skill all together!

How would you answer that question?  What are you incredible at?