Consistently Mindful Training

"Without a doubt consistent training is the most important aspect of training"

Several months ago, a friend wrote about how consistency in training was pretty much poppy-cock (my words not hers). Her reasoning was that she had spent years consistently getting the work in and really didn't see the vast improvements she thought she would. She argued that mindfulness was the most important.

I too spent the early part of last year consistently doing the workouts but, not fully focused. I completely agree that just consistency is the complete reality. 

I think Consistently Mindful Training is the key. Being in the moment and actively evaluating how it is going - too hard, not hard enough, more fuel, less fuel, don't forget to hydrate - is part of it. But, the other is looking for areas to push and excel.


Don't be foolish.

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

 

What's in YOUR Grit Bucket?

Mental toughness: is a collection of attributes that allow a person to persevere through difficult circumstances (such as difficult training or difficult competitive situations in games) and emerge without losing confidence.

This is explains what you need when you're out there on that last 1/3 of the course. Your lungs are burning, legs are shredded, you just want to quit but, you keep going. That is Mental Toughness. That's a lot of what the readings that coach sends are about. I can definitely use more of it. But, as part of my reflection, I've come to realize, as an age group triathlete, there is more needed than just mental toughness. 

You need Grit. Grit is the essence that gets you up at 4:45 am to be in the pool at 5:45 am. Then, it helps you drive through morning stop-and-go traffic to your day job where you deal with 8+ hours of problems/issues/personalities. Then, it keeps you going to drive through the evening commute to get home to the kids, husbands, or pets. Get the evening workout in. Grit helps you get dinner cooked and the kitchen cleaned up. Grit also helps you pack what is needed to do it all over again tomorrow. Day in. Day out. That's a lot of grit.

When I look back on last year, I realized that I didn't have enough grit to keep up with all the commitments I had made for the year. I phoned in workouts instead of using up my precocious grit. I took shortcuts and made excuses. And then, I wondered where the joy had gone. You see, if you don't go all in, there can be no joy.

"If you don't invest very much, then defeat doesn't hurt so much and winning isn't very exciting" - DickVermeil 

I took stock of the things that drew and replenished my Grit Bucket. I'd always known that training the run really took a lot of grit. Although I like long course, it took a lot of grit. As for replenishing grit, I think the only thing that replenishes it is time and fun. So, 2015 would need to be a year of replenishing grit.

For 2015, I'm doing 5 sprint aquabike races. So far, I'm ABSOLUTELY loving the training. I NEVER phone in a workout. I'm all in.

What's in YOUR Grit Bucket?

Self Worth vs Confidence

I'm back! I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I was doing and why it wasn't working as I planned. However, that is not the topic of this post. During my time off, I've spent a LOT of time thinking about things. I need to get these thoughts out so I can move on.

First up - self worth verses confidence.

Up until now, I thought of the two as the same thing. Not so! Self worth/esteem is how you VALUE yourself.

• "I'm so stupid"
• "I'm so fat"
• "I can't do anything right"
• "I'm so awesome"
• "I'm a pretty good human being"

Yep. Self worth is all about you.  Your self worth can be negative or positive. I am amazed at how many very capable women struggle with negative self esteem. Be kind to yourselves.

Once a week, coach sends readings to help work on our thinking patterns. I read them but, often didn't appreciate them. I have a very positive self esteem. I just need to swim/bike/run faster. Any more positive self esteem and I'd be impossible to live with!

Between these readings and my own reflection of why I was so disappointed with last year, I began to realize that it was lack of confidence that was holding me back. Confidence is how sure you are of things.

• "I can definitely get that project done in time"
• "I don't think I can keep this pace the entire time"
• "I bet I can do that"

Confidence is all about action and results. It is is very specific. You can be very confident at your profession yet, not confident at all on the race or agility course. It can be built with training and education.

 So, that's what my plan is for 2015. Do it with confidence.