January 22, 2020
Goal setting is something I discuss with my athletes a lot, especially when deciding how their season is going to take shape. And consistency is essential when improvement is the goal.
Staying on track isn’t always easy. Life has a funny way of taking over. And unless you are a professional athlete (and even if you are one…) training comes second to family and work. It’s about how triathlon fits into your life and not the other way around.
That being said, here a few tips to help you stay ahead of the game.
SCHEDULE YOUR TRAINING AS AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOURSELF. Knowing that you have a 45 minute run on the schedule is just the first step. It’s easy to get sidetracked as things happen throughout your day. If you know your 4:30 appointment is you walking out the door to go for your run, chances are higher of getting it done than if you just put in on a random list of stuff you need to try to do that day. I know that list. I probably have a half dozen lists floating around that never got finished. Because life got in the way.
***Pro-Tip…If I have a 45 minute run, I block out an hour. Because I usually am running 5-10 minutes behind schedule.
GET ORGNIZED EARLY. My most productive hours in the day are in the morning. But they can also be my laziest. Lunches get packed the day before. So do workout bags. Swim workout gets written down and put it the bag the day before too. Water bottles get filled early and the travel mug is next to the coffee pot. Find a system that works for you and stick to it.
***Pro-Tip…I don’t like to work after dinner (which is usually between 7:30 and 8:00 at night. Before I leave for my 6PM Class is my “deadline” to have stuff prepared for the next day. So I can come home, shower, eat and REST!
REMEMBER NOTHING IS EVER PERFECT. Consistency is not about perfection. It’s about hitting your mark as often as you can knowing there are going to be misses along the way. Not allowing the misses to completely derail you is part of the process. On race day, you don’t know what challenges you will face. And your ability to let it go and move on is a huge factor in a successful race. Have a tough swim? Once you are out of the water, stay focused on T1 and starting the bike. Your will have plenty of time to reflect after the race…stay in the moment!
And if being consist is a challenge for you in general? Start small. Pick one thing to get really consistent about and focus on that for a couple of weeks. Once you’ve worked it into your routine and it has become second nature, add on something else. Don’t be afraid to ask help and remember that great things take time.
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