Triathlon Motivation

• Schedule the workouts – Not only the day and what you are doing but also the time.  This really helps as most of us are led by our diary’s, and if it’s in your diary at a particular time, you are less likely to book something else in, plus its easier to schedule around it. Most people find this far more important the busier they get.  If it’s in the diary, it’s getting done!  This is where having a coach can really make a difference; they will programme the sessions for you and hold you accountable for those sessions.  Sometimes just knowing someone else is watching is enough to get you out of the door.
• 10-minute rule – This one gets used quite a bit and with different lengths of time but essentially a great way to ‘force’ yourself out of the door when you really don’t want to.  We love our sport, but sometimes we want to curl up on the sofa and inhale the contents of a packet of Revels (or other chocolate-based confectionery); this method really does help combat that urge and get us to get out and do what is needed.  The way it works is, even if you don’t feel like going outside, on the turbo or in the pool, promise yourself you will turn round/get off/get out and come home if you still feel the same after 10 minutes.  We’ve yet to meet someone who has come home after 10 minutes (unless they feel really ill).
• Book a race – Sound obvious?  Well, it is.  We are far more likely to train consistently if we have a target in mind, and sometimes this can be all the motivation that we need to get out and get it done; fear can be a great motivator.  This can really be used well to either kickstart your season with an early sprint or gain a full season of focus from a ‘bucket list’ race.
• Get training partners – Why make Triathlon, an individual sport, more isolated than it needs to be.  Find some like-minded (and similar ability) athlete friends and get out with them.  Setting a time to meet and have the pressure of letting them down if you don’t turn up works wonders.  This also has the added benefit of giving you some company on the long workouts.  This is where group workouts are really beneficial; having a group session to attend will create a sense of community and friendship and give you some other people that you will ‘let down’ if you don’t attend.
• Take a rest – Sometimes, being the ever so slightly committed (read obsessed) athletes we are, we fail to see the big picture and realise we are just overtired, and our body is telling us that we need to rest.  We need to listen to our bodies!  Remember, it’s better to miss one workout today than 20 further down the road when we get sick or injured due to doing too much.  We really do see many the athletes who come to us after weeks, months or years of trying it on their own who fall foul of this and forget to rest and recuperate so they can come back stronger in the future.  For more pointers on rest, take a look here.

So, there it is, a few ideas around making sure you keep training and getting you up and get out of the door.  Just remember, the hardest part of any session is the first three steps out of your door.