There are no quick fixes in Triathlon

By Coach Paulgeneral
Online Triathlon Coaching

The process IRONMAN - Paul JonesIts always fascinating when, as a coach, I see improvements... however, not all the athletes recognise the tiny little incremental changes.  Triathletes have a tendency to work along the no pain no gain must go harder mentality.  Triathlon success does not happen overnight.

As an avid Star Wars fan, I often quote the films.  Yoda is a particular one liner influence.  "Patience" is used many times in my sessions.

There are other terms used, "Hurry slowly" for example.  If you are already training to the maximum that your lifestyle allows, then training harder, for longer is not usually the answer.

You have to question, why are you not getting faster... if indeed that is the reality.  Have you checked?  Or is it just your perception that you are swimming crap, your cycling has not improved, you need to do more work on your running?  Have you actually asked your coach?

Coaches have the luxury of objectivity and a stopwatch.  I can see when an athlete is getting faster.  Of course there are occasions when an athlete isn't getting faster, stronger or fitter.  As a coach I can process that.  Has the athlete done more than one swim a week?  Are they getting their key sessions in each week?  Are they doing those key sessions properly?  Are you getting enough sleep and recovering properly?  Are they enjoying what they do?

As an athlete, it is easy to allow the negatives to creep into your head space.

Yes there are times when it can be frustrating.  However, in his book, The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance, George Mumford says, "It takes courage to silence the self-critic.  That inner critic always seems ready to jump in and say, "You messed up.  You're not worthy of love or respect," or "You're nobody," or "You're not adequate."  That idea or belief system can in itself be enough to prevent you from seeing things clearly and moving from motivation to action."

So ask yourself as an athlete, "Why am I not getting faster?"

 

Depending on your goals and your starting point, triathlon success does not happen overnight.  Alastair Brownlee, didn't just rock up at London 2012 (or Rio 2016 come to that!) and smash the best in the world.  Nope, he had been training for years before that.  He raced Beijing and fell apart (comparatively!) on the run... remember.  It took him another two years to make himself totally competitive.  He required patience, dedication, motivation and determination to achieve his goals.

As adults, particularly those who have not come from a swimming back ground, its a mega challenge to turn yourself into a half decent swimmer.  That goes for cycling and running too.  There will be occasions when you make a break through... enjoy them... make the most of them.  Most of the time however, it will be hard graft with tiny hard to spot incremental changes.

I follow Formula One.  Have done all my life, went to Kyalami in South Africa when I was a baby!  My point is, that often you will here of drivers "over-driving" the cars... basically trying too hard.  Felipe Massa did when he went to Ferrari for example. It was only when his team sat him down and got him to calm down he took off.  Next race... 3rd at the Nurburgring.

This happens in Triathlon too.  If you smash the warm up... calm down.  If you thrash in the pool... relax.  Going too hard early in the race, you will run out of gas... stop over-driving.

If you expect to turn yourself into the best triathlete you can, then it will not happen overnight.  It will take time.  Years.  Allow yourself to enjoy the journey.  Learn from your mistakes.  As Yoda said in the Last Jedi, "The greatest teacher, failure is."

Remember Triathlon is a journey, not a destination.  I have been on this journey for over 25 years.  I love the sport and although I am getting a little squidgy round the edges and will never make the olympics as an athlete... my path is now focused on keeping fit, coaching and above all enjoying this amazing sport.  Who knows where the journey will take me...

I'll finish with something Bruce Lee said, "As you think, so shall you become."

Paul Jones - F4L Triathlon CoachingPaul is a Professional Triathlon Coach. Passionate about the sport of Triathlon. Paul empowers athletic achievements with quality individualised bespoke triathlon coaching.

Coach Paul is a British Triathlon Federation Level 3 Coach and a Triathlon Australia Performance Coach.

He is also an IRONMAN Certified Coach and a Level 2 Training Peaks Coach. F4L Triathlon Coaching offers triathletes and other endurance athletes a full coaching and training service that caters to all levels of triathletes. F4L offers professional triathlon and endurance coaching and the reliability triathletes and endurance athletes require. Each athlete is an individual, every athlete has different needs.