Karel and I had a fun time reflecting on his Patagonman extreme triathlon experience. If you'd like to hear about his race experience (the highs, lows and everything between), you can check out his race recap video (HERE)
As I was editing the video (adding pictures and videos from the race), I couldn't help but think about the journey that Karel went through to get to the start line.
For athletes, it’s easy to believe that everything comes down to one day.....the race. The months (or years) of training can feel like a means to an end - an unfulfilling road that hinges on a race day outcome. But here's the truth: it's not about the race result. The fulfillment happens in the preparation.
The Trap of the Finish Line Mentality
Goals are essential. They give direction, motivation, and structure to training. They help you get out of your cozy bed and power through a workout when there are distractions all around you. However, when your self-worth is centered around a result, that finish-line-only mindset can drain joy from the process of preparation. A missed workout, an injury or a small setback can feel catastrophic because it threatens the outcome you’ve attached all your happiness to.
Goals are essential. They give direction, motivation, and structure to training. They help you get out of your cozy bed and power through a workout when there are distractions all around you. However, when your self-worth is centered around a result, that finish-line-only mindset can drain joy from the process of preparation. A missed workout, an injury or a small setback can feel catastrophic because it threatens the outcome you’ve attached all your happiness to.
Preparation Is Where You’re Built
The event reveals what you’ve built, but preparation is where the building happens.
Every early morning alarm, every physical therapy session, every mile when motivation is low—these moments shape you as an athlete and as a human. Discipline, patience, optimism and mental toughness are not developed on race day. They are earned quietly, over time, when no one is watching.
When you begin to value these moments, training stops being something you have to do and becomes something you want to do.
The event reveals what you’ve built, but preparation is where the building happens.
Every early morning alarm, every physical therapy session, every mile when motivation is low—these moments shape you as an athlete and as a human. Discipline, patience, optimism and mental toughness are not developed on race day. They are earned quietly, over time, when no one is watching.
When you begin to value these moments, training stops being something you have to do and becomes something you want to do.
Redefining Success on a Daily Basis
If you ever struggle to enjoy the preparation for an event, it's important to redefine what success looks like. Instead of judging your success by an outcome (one that you can’t fully control), focus on process-based: the execution, the focus, listening to your body, nailing your nutrition, recovery. These daily successes are always available to you, regardless of available time, fitness level or circumstances.
If you ever struggle to enjoy the preparation for an event, it's important to redefine what success looks like. Instead of judging your success by an outcome (one that you can’t fully control), focus on process-based: the execution, the focus, listening to your body, nailing your nutrition, recovery. These daily successes are always available to you, regardless of available time, fitness level or circumstances.
Setbacks Are Speed Bumps, Not Detours
Injuries, low motivation and performance plateaus are not signs that you are failing. They are important chapters in your journey. Athletes who enjoy the process understand that setbacks are often part of the process. Each challenge forces adaptation—physically, mentally, or strategically. When you view obstacles as teachers rather than threats, you stay engaged instead of discouraged.
Injuries, low motivation and performance plateaus are not signs that you are failing. They are important chapters in your journey. Athletes who enjoy the process understand that setbacks are often part of the process. Each challenge forces adaptation—physically, mentally, or strategically. When you view obstacles as teachers rather than threats, you stay engaged instead of discouraged.
Identity Beyond the Event
When athletes tie their identity solely to the result of an event (qualifying for a world championship, placing in the top percent, setting a personal best, finishing in a certain time), preparation becomes psychologically risky. Your happiness on race day is decided by a result. Race day becomes pass or fail.
You’re not just “preparing for a race.” You’re becoming a better human - more resilient, more self-aware. Those qualities don’t disappear after the event—they carry into your next goal and beyond sport altogether.
When athletes tie their identity solely to the result of an event (qualifying for a world championship, placing in the top percent, setting a personal best, finishing in a certain time), preparation becomes psychologically risky. Your happiness on race day is decided by a result. Race day becomes pass or fail.
You’re not just “preparing for a race.” You’re becoming a better human - more resilient, more self-aware. Those qualities don’t disappear after the event—they carry into your next goal and beyond sport altogether.
The Event Is a Celebration
When you truly enjoy the journey, the event becomes something bigger. The event becomes a celebration of the work you’ve done and all you have achieved to get to the start line.
Win or struggle, the sense of accomplishment that comes from the process is available regardless of the final result.
When you truly enjoy the journey, the event becomes something bigger. The event becomes a celebration of the work you’ve done and all you have achieved to get to the start line.
Win or struggle, the sense of accomplishment that comes from the process is available regardless of the final result.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for an event is all about the experience. It’s where you learn who you are when motivation dips, when distractions are around you, when a setback occurs and when goals feel out of reach.
Enjoying the journey doesn’t mean lowering your standards or caring less about outcomes. It means expanding your definition of success to include the daily struggles, the lessons learned, and the person you become along the way.
We often tell our athletes that race day goes by quickly. When you stand on the start line, the race will be over before you know it. The journey, however, stays with you long after the horn blows to start the race.
Preparing for an event is all about the experience. It’s where you learn who you are when motivation dips, when distractions are around you, when a setback occurs and when goals feel out of reach.
Enjoying the journey doesn’t mean lowering your standards or caring less about outcomes. It means expanding your definition of success to include the daily struggles, the lessons learned, and the person you become along the way.
We often tell our athletes that race day goes by quickly. When you stand on the start line, the race will be over before you know it. The journey, however, stays with you long after the horn blows to start the race.