Training for a triathlon is tough. There are usually multiple sessions during the week when I question the sanity of my coach. Times when I wonder how on earth I am going to complete the prescribed workout. Other days the conditions force me back into bed: the wet, the cold, the wind, the dark. Triathlon is not the centre of my world…there are sessions I have to miss because something more important comes up. Some days I just can’t – there are a number of occasions where I have given up and gone home. Three days ago I swam 500 meters when I had 4 kilometer planned. And, though it might surprise you to hear this, I think that’s alright.
Don’t get me wrong, consistency is absolutely critical to success in this sport. It is perhaps the single biggest differentiator between reaching your goals and falling short. It is however important to recognize that there are occasions when sport has to take a back seat. Other times your body needs the rest, and giving it some time to recover may be far more beneficial than pushing through. That said, this post is not about excusing missed sessions – it is about helping you push through when you really don’t want to.
I was initially reluctant to get a coach. I loved having the freedom to do what I wanted, when I wanted. And having more money to buy food each month (being on a student budget does have some quite severe limitations). After feeling like I had reached a plateau in my training, I decided to give it a go. The results have been tremendous. The specificity of the training – sessions tailored to get the best out of me – has been incredibly useful. Though probably the most important part is that I know there is someone constantly looking over my shoulder asking why I didn’t complete a session. When it is 10°C at 4:30 in the morning it is very easy to convince yourself you don’t have to go out cycling, but it becomes much more challenging explaining the missed session to your coach a few hours later.
I cannot overemphasis the role training partners have had in my triathlon journey. Knowing someone else is expecting me has gotten me to more training sessions than I can count. Even if we aren’t doing the same session, having someone else share the pain makes it that much easier to bear. One of the reasons I love this sport is the people you get to meet, and there is no better way to get to know someone than being with them in the midst of shared suffering.
At some point in time we will all be faced with training alone. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just requires motivating yourself with a slightly different tack. I’ve often heard people suggesting you think about an upcoming race, or the reason why you started triathlon in the first place. And while that might work for some, and under certain circumstances works for me too, often it just doesn’t cut it. If I really don’t want to do a session, it takes a lot more to inspire me to get out the door.
Sometimes it is necessary to treat myself like a small child. I regularly use bribery, generally in the form of chocolate, to get myself through a session. I either have chocolate before a session, and use this as a reason to exercise (I need to burn off all the calories I just ate*)[*disclaimer: this is a double edged sword. You may find yourself eating the chocolate and then not exercising. In which case all you have succeeded in doing is putting on the pounds. However, the chocolate might make you happier, in which case it seems warranted] or throughout the session continuously think about the chocolate I will receive when I’m finished.
I’m not sure fueling every session with chocolate is the best long term solution, so I’ve had to come up with other plans. I have recently started listening to podcasts, especially while riding on the indoor trainer. These provide a welcome distraction particularly during long indoor rides. Perhaps the weirdest tactic I have resorted to, is shouting at myself. Looking back it is particularly weird when it happens when I’m on a Wattbike inside a crowded gym. Though if it gets me through the session…
I am writing this as much for myself as anyone else. Reminding myself that not every session will go perfectly, and that’s okay. But also reminding myself about all the times I’ve pushed through when I didn’t think I could and how much better an athlete I am because of it. You can do the same. I’ll see you out there.
Happy training,
Mike
Mike Ross 