I'm sure we all have our own Top Ten, but this is a list I put together after a long run where I found myself wondering why am I here? Why do I bother? What purpose does this pain serve? Of course, there are the obvious answers that we are trying to improve our overall wellness. Some of us even think proper training will lead to less race day pain. But, I believe that there are other benefits that can be developed by committing yourself to training. Training and racing have provided me with the opportunities to change, grow and improve myself both personally and professionally. Have I taken advantage of all these opportunities? Definitely not. But the potential is there! So, without further ado, I thought I would share my own Top Ten List of some of the skills we have the potential to develop while training, whether it s for a 5K run or an Ironman Triathlon.
10. Plan ahead use your time wisely, there are limited hours in a day. When can you workout this week? Tuesday morning? Friday lunch? When will other things get done? Groceries? House chores? Visit family?
9. Preparation. Pack your gym bag the night before. That s 10 more minutes of sleep. Pack your lunch or work bag the night before to save time in a.m.
8. Commitment. Make a decision and stick to it. To a race To good health To family/work
7. Training partners. In all aspects of life, who you surround yourself with is important. Do you train with dedicated friends with positive attitudes, a willingness to learn and similar goals? They can provide amazing support. Consider who we surround ourselves with at work and in the community. How will they influence our goals or outcomes?
6. Constant education. Be open to learning opportunities. What to eat? When to eat? How to change a bike tire? What causes shoulder pain? How does muscle imbalance occur? What are core muscles? This also applies to real life. We always have the opportunity to improve our knowledge base through classes, reading, friends, etc.
5. Discipline. It's tough to get out of bed at the 4:30 a.m. alarm for a run. Watch your pace, too fast, too slow? When do you break away from the group if your goals aren't aligned?
4. Sacrifice. Anyone else watch their diet the day before a race or long run? Ever have to leave a great party early for that early run?
3. Know your limits. No matter what the strategic plan, or the training plan, there are days you just don't have it. Don t let the quality of your task suffer by pushing yourself too far.
2. Keep things fun. Laughter helps make the time move faster. The best part of a long run is when we gather for breakfast afterwards.
1. The greatest benefit of training on my list is the feeling of success when you accomplish your goal; whether it's losing 10 lbs, finishing your 1st 5K, or finishing a triathlon. There is no greater feeling then knowing you worked hard, sacrificed, and achieved what seemed impossible. We have heard the old cliché Pain is temporary, Pride is forever. I know I must remind myself of this when I start to ask the question why do I do this? What purpose does it serve? I know that I will continue to attempt to learn some life lessons while I suffer through races and long runs, even on those days when I just want to sit down.
Best of luck in your training, See you on the path!
