No Race in the Calendar? No Problem!

In the driven and ambitious athletic society that we live in, it seems at times the success of our training is only ever measured by our race results and equally, at times, we can find it difficult to train without a race on the horizon.

Have we at some point lost focus on the pure simplicity of working hard, staying consistent and being patient? For many athletes if we simply focused on being present in the workout we’re currently performing, rather than the destination we want our fitness to reach, we may find we arrive there before we even know it! 

Given most athletes around the world are unsure of when their next race will be, I want to remind you of the importance of falling in love with the process of training and not just the results. It’s a lesson that might appear absurd at first, but I challenge you to forget about what lies ahead for the time being and stay acutely focused on ‘the now’. Apply it your routine and see what results you get.

I saw a great quote the other day by U.S. Coach Ryan Bolton. Bolton is Heather Jackson’s new coach and has guided Ben Hoffman and runner Caroline Rotich. He’s an Olympian from Sydney 2000 and an IRONMAN champion in his own right.

Bolton was quoted as saying:

“I would say my most successful athletes are the ones who just live for this shit. If they quit racing—and I guess I would say I was the same way—tomorrow, they would still be on their bike for five hours. Not because they have to train anymore, but because they truly just enjoy it”.

This resonated with me as I’ve always found great satisfaction in simply training. Finding joy in the process is vitally important for longevity and success in the sport. If you don’t love to train then the highest echelons of performance may be outside your reach.  One success factor that I’ve observed, which is present across all top athletes, is consistency. It is what they do each and every day over and over again that allows them to achieve their results. There is much to be found in the daily grind - the ‘process of training’ that delivers us to race day…

01 | The Process Will Help Refocus Your Energy

Focusing and redirecting your energy to focus solely on the process is important because the better you become, the more you will enjoy the journey. If you put all your energy and focus on the final result/destination, you will never walk away fulfilled. Practicing the process is not always glamorous, exciting or thrilling, but it will get you to where you want to be.

02 | The Process Makes You Pay Attention

Have you ever heard the saying ‘You get out of life what you put into it?’ It’s such a simple statement but we often make it complicated. When we’re only driven by outcome goals instead of concentrating on this moment, we’re not aware of how we achieved certain results. This in turn takes a toll on our emotions because we can become fixated on our ‘results equalling our self-worth’. Consider your results and then backtrack to what led you there. Nothing is more baffling and stressful than when we can’t understand what we did to achieve that outcome.

03 | The Process Makes You Appreciate the Results

Imagine having anything you wanted without having to lift a finger or without applying any effort? Nothing is more satisfying than working hard and earning the outcome. When we complete the cycle of setting a goal, working towards and completing it, we experience a feeling of validation.

What we don’t realize is that without appreciating the process we won’t know how to handle failure. Without knowing how to handle failure or setbacks, we will never appreciate success when it presents itself. Failure forces us to pay attention and lets us know we’re getting closer to success. But more importantly, it allows us to be mindful and appreciative of the process.

The trials and tribulations that you will encounter on your journey will significantly add meaning and purpose to it. Enjoy both the process and then the results. You’ll learn from both.

Bevan McKinnon | April 2020