Free Speed - T1 and T2

Free Speed - T1 and T2

By Pam Kallio,

USAT Level II Coach , USA Cycling Level II Coach

We all know the KISS principle right? Keep it Simple Stupid…..It applies at work – at the office – and guess what – it applies for your racing and training also.

A flood of information is available for anyone that wants to take the time to read – books, articles, internet, the list goes on and on. What HR to work out at, what shoes to run in if you over-pronate or under-pronate.. what to eat, how to train…there is more information than any one person can process or has time to read. Nowadays you can be com e a credential holding coach even if you have never raced. There is simply too much information and too many voices to listen too. Everyone is an expert, or at least thinks they are.

And yet with all this information available the average weekend warrior is still looking for answers on how to improve and how to get faster – how to reach their potential.

There are a few simple truths to this that I have found over my own years of com petition and coaching to be fundamentally true. The Pros that will really open up and talk to you will validate these truths also.

There is a simple energy equation. You are human and have a finite amount of energy. Whether you decide to spend it on emotional energy, physical or spiritual you still have a finite amount. Use it wisely. Extra stress at work or at home limits the amount of energy you have available for training. If you have a particularly stressful week at home or at work take this into account with your training – be nice to yourself and change your expectations. Unless you see and speak with your coach on a daily basis – your plan is written for the “best case” scenario. In other words, your life is just rolling along hunky dory - no stress, happy go lucky you..right??? Wrong!! ____happens and you HAVE to allow for it and take it into account.

Job requirements, family responsibilities, illness, worry, etc. all take their toll on your energy resources. Approach your training with a holistic approach. You have to take everything into account.

Most of my inspiration for my articles com e from personal experiences of my own training or through what my athletes experience. Recently I had two athletes who both were sick. Some version of the flu where you are sick enough to miss school or work. Both had fairly important up coming races and the timing of their sickness did not bode well for their race potential. One athlete determined NOT to race, but was sorely disappointed when he looked at the times after the race and mentally determined where he thought he would have been. The other athlete decided he felt good enough to race and ended up with a DNF – his body was just not recovered enough to perform at the level necessary.

My point is this – Training is like anything and everything else in life. It is a part of your life – it is not your life. It does not determine who or what you are – if you are a good person – a good son or daughter or a good parent.

Of course we love to race and train or we would not do it, but unless you are making your living at it – take another look at your priorities. You may be surprised if you take a step back and re-evaluate your reasons for racing and training. With a more holistic approach – mind – body and spirit you may find yourself far exceeding what you thought was possible. With a balanced approach you may also find you are a much happier person – take time to enjoy the other aspects of your life. Having raced and trained in Florida for the past 10 years and just recently moved to Tucson , Arizona , I am finding this lesson valuable myself. The athletes here are just as driven – but seem to be very balanced. Maybe it's the majestic mountains or the open desert that puts it all into perspective. Maybe it's the fact that the constant mountain riding tends to humble you, but folks here are much more in tune with themselves. Training is fun, not a chore to be accomplished. Step back – listen to your own inner voice – and enjoy the journey…there is always another race and another day to train. Reaching your goal is the top of the mountain – if you don't enjoy the ride to the top you are missing most of the experience…it takes a long time to reach the top – and you are only there for a moment in time.

Pam Kallio
USAT L2 Triathlon coach
USA L2 cycling coach

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