You have big athletic goals for yourself in 2018 but in looking back at 2017, you feel your biggest struggle was lacking the training consistency that was needed to get you to the next level.
Whenever a goal-oriented athlete is unable meet daily (or weekly) training expectations, there is a general sense of failure and frustration stemming from missed workouts. Work, travel, family, projects and other life stressors are bound to get in the way of training but you are constantly reminded that consistency fosters success. In looking back at 2017, be honest with your assessment of what needs improvement in 2018. Is the missing link to your inconsistency better commitment to training or a better designed, smarter training plan?
Whenever a goal-oriented athlete is unable meet daily (or weekly) training expectations, there is a general sense of failure and frustration stemming from missed workouts. Work, travel, family, projects and other life stressors are bound to get in the way of training but you are constantly reminded that consistency fosters success. In looking back at 2017, be honest with your assessment of what needs improvement in 2018. Is the missing link to your inconsistency better commitment to training or a better designed, smarter training plan?
Now is the perfect time to think about your previous season and what changes, tweaks or modifications are needed to help you be more consistent with training in 2018. It's natural to assume that "not enough" training prevented you from reaching your training but in reality, the biggest issue for most athletes is how you deal with the life stressors that disrupt your training rhythm.
Consistent training does not mean perfect training. Life will get in the way of training so you must always be an active and motivated participant in your life to safely integrate training into your work, family and travel commitments. Consistency comes when you find a way to integrate your training plan into your busy family schedule, a high stress work environment and other life commitments without compromising sleep, energy levels, emotions/mood, relationships and dietary habits.
As you reflect on last season, consider re-evaluating some of the most common reasons that cause inconsistency in training:
As you reflect on last season, consider re-evaluating some of the most common reasons that cause inconsistency in training:
- Lack of motivation/accountability
- Feeling constantly rushed in life, you can never slow down
- Trying to progress too quickly with intensity or volume (often due to fear-based training)
- Poorly planned recovery/easy days
- Trying to follow a training plan that doesn't fit into your life
- Summer burn out from being too "all in" with volume/intensity, too early in the season
- Racing too much without consistent training
- Not keeping up with strength training (or rehab from a previous injury) when training volume increases.
- Skipping the boring/easy sessions
- Training through injury or sickness
- Trying to make-up workouts (or do more than needed) for fear of losing fitness or not being race ready
- Sacrificing sleep order to squeeze in a workout
- Poor dietary planning
- Poor recovery nutrition
- Not understanding how to use sport nutrition properly
- Not being present during workouts (too easily distracted, mind wandering)
- Always comparing yourself to another athlete (or a past version of yourself)
- Not being patient
- Not keeping your easy days easy
- Fear of failure
- Relying too much on your gadgets/metrics to control your workout
- Being too hard on yourself
- Making the wrong investments (ex. race wheels instead of a bike fit)
Training is not about checking off workouts and cramming in workout sessions. It's better to do less training really well than to do too much training very poorly. Be realistic with your training expectations so that you can smartly integrate training into your life in an effort to reach athletic excellence in 2018.