Enjoying the athletic journey

It was around this time of the year, 11 years ago, that I found myself just a few weeks away from what would be the most amazing 8 months for my body.

In April, I finished my first Boston Marathon (my 2nd marathon).

                                                    

In May, I finished my first half IM (Disney half ironman). Who knew that a week or so later I would meet Karel!

In November, I finished my first Ironman (IMFL) and qualified for the 2007 Ironman World Championship.

As a competitive athlete for much of my lie, I enjoy performing with my body. I always set big goals for myself and I make no excuses when it comes to working hard for my goals. Success is all relative as it relates to expectations for race day but for the past 11 years, I have experienced a lot of success as an endurance triathlete. 

Now that I am in my 11th year of endurance triathlon racing (only focusing on half IM distance racing this year), I think back to when I started and I find myself with the same level of excitement, happiness and joy for training as I did when I started. Actually, now that we live in Greenville, I am sure that my love for training is greater than ever before. 

Seeing that my body is 11 years older than when I started, I believe the only thing that has kept me enjoying this athletic journey is the appreciation that I have for my body and what it allows me to do. Knowing that many athletes create great stress when it comes to high athletic expectations, stretching the comfort zone and over analyzing results, I've always tried to keep training fun and enjoyable. Even though I push my body and it often leaves me exhausted, sore and with some niggles, the preparation for race day is truly an enjoyable experience for me. 

In sport, especially the sport of triathlon which involves three separate sports, there are always distractions and uncontrollable factors that can make training and racing extremely stressful and unpredictable. I think it's normal to never feel fully "prepared" and to always feel nervous for an upcoming event, regardless of how well you trained or your previous racing experience.

But when we have an element of pleasure and enjoyment for our journey, we can be more focused, push harder and above all, feel a greater sense of personal satisfaction. And above all, training for an event is much more than being prepared for race day. Training for an athletic event helps us be prepared for the unpredictability of life. Sport teaches us patience, problem solving, how to be comfortable being uncomfortable, how to overcome tough situations and so much more. 

In 13 days, I will kick of my 11th season of endurance triathlon racing with the Great Clermont Olympic distance triathlon, which will conclude our 4.5 day Trimarni Clermont training camp. Two weeks later, I will be racing the Haines City 70.3 with Karel.

Over the past 11 years, I have developed a great love for challenging myself and for stretching my comfort zone while my focus for every workout is not for a specific outcome on race day but to be prepared to perform. Only time will tell what my body can do this season but for now, I am truly enjoying the journey. 

3 tips to help you enjoy your training journey

 From the goal-focused newbie athlete who is determined to cross a finish line with a smile, to the elite who races for bragging rights, prize money and podium awards and everyone in between, it's very easy to feel the pressure to perform on race day and consequently, overlook a few key areas which may positively affect your training journey. And because almost every athlete will have an obstacle or two to overcome throughout a training cycle (ex. injury, life change, work stress, family obligation, sickness, etc.) it's important that you never lose sight of your goals and that you always focus on what you CAN do throughout ever moment of your training journey until you reach the start line. 

Without a doubt, it’s important that your voluntary, extremely active lifestyle is bringing you closer to your goals. But, participating in a race requires more than finishing a workout with tired muscles drenched in sweaty clothes, buying fancy equipment and gadgets and making traveling arrangements. 

Starting today, feel worthy of your “athlete” title.  You belong to a passionate and supportive group of active bodies and determined minds and there is nothing more self-defeating that constantly comparing your goals, body composition and paces to other athletes. You should always feel deserving of your “athlete-in-training” status as you are no longer an “exerciser”. Instead of wishing it was easier or searching for quicker results, take into consideration a few simple suggestions of how you can enjoy your training journey no matter what obstacles come in your way. 

   1) It’s not just about the miles –  Consider the many variables in your life that can positively affect your training consistency and health and can contribute to a balanced lifestyle, on top of the training miles. Among the top priorities: Sport nutrition before, during and after training to assist in intentional physiological stress. Strength training to enhance your cardio-focused routine. Stretching to encourage proper range of motion and injury prevention. A restful sleeping routine to help control appetite, quicken recovery, assist in stress and attitude management and to encourage stable energy throughout the day. Intentional active recovery and rest to prevent overtraining and to encourage consistency in training. Purchase, use and a basic understanding of training gadgets (ex. GPS and HR-enabled devices) to avoid haphazard training. Keep in mind that you are still training your body even when your GPS device is not running. 

     2) Developing a healthy relationship with food and the body – Eat a wholesome and balanced diet for fuel and for health. When it comes to changing body composition to encourage performance gains, your body will take care of itself when you are performance-focused and not scale obsessed. Avoid words like “off-limit, bad, guilty, chubby, fat and ugly” to guarantee that you are appreciative of what your body is allowing you to do on a daily basis and that you fuel and nourish your body adequately. Always thank your body for giving you a tomorrow and for helping you get to start lines (and to cross finish lines). 

  3) Don’t rush the journey- To make the most physiological training adaptations with the least amount of training stress, focus on your individual response to training. Training adaptations vary between individuals and there is no perfect training (or diet) plan. A properly planned training routine, alongside a carefully mapped-out racing schedule will ensure well-timed, peak performances thanks to a progressive, individualized overload. Develop a training routine that takes into account your current level of fitness, frequency, intensity and duration of workouts, past season successes and learning lessons, current lifestyle requirements and available hours of daily/weekly training, number of weeks/months until your A-races, short and long term goals, past or potential injuries/health issues and ability to recover properly between workouts. Your body is unique and it may not adapt to your training schedule like you had envisioned. Take a step back when you feel frustrated or discouraged and recognize what your body can do and then create a new plan.