Invariably when people get into this sport, it is to fill some sort of need in their lives.
Don’t take that as an insult by the way, it is better to fill it with something productive like sport, than having an affair, or drinking too much to dull the pain.
I train for exactly the same reason as you.
It gives me a purpose which is selfish – just for me and that makes me feel good and if I feel good, I think I am a better husband, father and friend to those who matter the most to me.
The thing is, all this training can be seen by those around us as a bit weird……
Why on earth do we feel the need to do it when we could just sit in front of a the TV watching a box set, drinking a bottle of wine and eating chocolates?
Because people like us have energy we need to get rid of.
In short I believe the the training stops me from going slightly off the rails.
Maybe its the same for you, I don’t know?
Other big reasons people get into training though is:
To improve their health
Feel better about themselves
Feel proud of achieving something
Lose weight
Interestingly, the last one is really closely related to all of the other ones.
Quite simply, if we get that right, so many of the other things fall in to place.
You will run faster.
You will feel better.
You will have more energy.
You will be more attractive – sad but true.
You will probably live longer.
That all sounds a bit dramatic but those are the facts.
That is of course assuming you are NOT already super lean, which if you’re reading this is probably unlikely.
Going back to being Triathlon Mad……
One of the most insane things I am seeing is people training really hard and putting in loads of hours – arguably hours they don’t need to.
Simply training for the sakes of it, or worse still, training to lose weight, training off the pizza from last night.
To be optimal, our training needs to have a purpose and to burn calories from poor food choices isn’t one.
I’ve said it many times:
“You can’t outrain a bad diet”
The only exception to this is if you are an elite athlete training multiple times a day, aged 25 and are genetically gifted.
I would wager that from the 13,000 triathletes reading this, there is not one matching the description above.
So what are you going to do?
Carry on as you are?
Or:
Get a nutrition plan!
This is something I offer in my private coaching group – The Total Triathlete.
Meal plans.
Your questions answered via the private Facebook group.
Video Q&A.
Support.
Motivation.
Free copy of my book on sign up.
The group is growing weekly and new year will be mad, so get in there now and get ahead of the competition
It’s £10 (12 USD ish) a month and you can leave any time:
Jamie “ask me anything” Leighton