Consistent training is arguably the most important factor in the development of any triathlete. In my view it is and certainly provides the key which unlocks a triathlete’s potential.
How do you make certain that you train consistently and continuously develop over time? Volume of training is one aspect; quality of that training is another. It is not just about putting together a couple of weeks, or even months but over many years? Let us begin by looking at why training falters, what stops athletes training?
INJURY – We all have them. Some occur due to a specific incident: bike crash, running along a path and turning an ankle etc. However, in my experience triathletes have a tendency to over-train and that is a recipe for disaster. Overuse injuries can occur as a result of doing too much too soon, or not getting enough recovery during high intensity periods of training;
MOTIVATION – This usually occurs due to fatigue, when a triathlete needs a rest or when a training programme repeats the same sessions, week in, week out. We can not peak all year, in fact we can only peak for very short periods of time, so to enable you to get the best out of yourself work with a coach and get yourself a periodised training program which will help keep you motivated and bring you to your best for that big race;
ILLNESSES – Minor coughs and colds might not bring your training to a stop, but by listening to your body, easing off the intensity, you can manage them. Ignoring your body and ploughing on regardless will do much more damage. As an example: the sore throat and sniffle can develop into a full-blown cold resulting in several days of missed training and another few days of easy training.
Be it injuries, fatigue or illness, we all know of an athlete (or two!) who have not listened to their bodies and have had to take more time off after pushing themselves beyond what their bodies were capable of, when a simple rest day or two may have solved the problem.
If you were working with F4L Coaching you would be asked several daily questions which then get fed back to the coach:
• Feel Good Factor (how do you feel today?): 1 is like poo! / 5 is ready to beat Lance Armstrong
• Fatigue (how tired do you feel?): 1 is not at all / 5 is very
• Sleep (how did you sleep last night?): 1 is very badly / 5 is like baby
• Muscle soreness (how are the muscles today?): 1 is not at all / 5 would be ‘Just don’t touch me!’
• In addition F4L Coaching would ask what your Resting Heart Rate was.
All of these factors would then be looked at each week to assess your general state of fatigue and well being. Triathletes should be constantly assessing their bodies and the way it talks to you and be prepared to take a more flexible approach to your schedule (e.g. think about each session, if a long bike is planned do not do it if you feel… wrong!!).
In conclusion the athlete is always in control. The best coach in the world can only offer advice, if you are the stubborn triathlete that will not listen when their body is screaming, “I NEED A REST” you will pay. The triathletes who get the best out of themselves:
• Listen to their body
• Take advice from their coach on a regular basis
• Notes warning signs and then takes does something about it…
Filling in the simple form will take less than a minute each morning but could save you days, months and even a season in the long run!
