Are you overmeasuring and under-feeling?
With the introduction of so many quantitative devices (GPS, heart rate monitors, and power meters), many athletes have forgotten how to feel their effort and training. Measuring is easy, but learning how to truly feel in training is incredibly hard. The backlash against measuring tools is in full effect as many overfocus on and are guided by these tools without listening to the signals the body provides. I encourage athletes to utilize these tools as governors and feedback tools but hesitate to have them employ the tools to determine effort. The engineers and measuring fanatics will kick and scream, but performance is not a simplistic calculation. Disregard your internal clock and perceived effort, and you will never truly evolve as an athlete.
Step away.
If you are struggling, and not getting the results you expect, you may simply need a break. It doesn’t mean you have to stop training or chasing your goals, but a week or two of less structure, or training simply by feel, can help you reset your mind and body. If you do take a step away, be open to evolving your approach. I am always amazed at how rigid many coaches and athletes can be about their approach to training.
If you love this post, there’s more where that came from! Check out The Well-Built Triathlete: Turning Potential Into Performance by the head coach and founder of Purplepatch Fitness, Matt Dixon. Matt is also coach to professional triathlete and Habit Project founder Sarah Piampiano.
