Build to Ironman 70.3 Geelong - Managing Motivation

The grind to a start line can be long and lonely at times. As an athlete its important to understand the different phases involved in order to reach that start line in your optimum form.

My three phases and some guidelines to implement.

16-10 WEEKS OUT:
This phase is when you are laying a base/foundation. You should have leniency in your training (structure with flexibility). I would rarely touch my TT bike during this block. I would avoid running off the bike, long pool sets, riding indoors. Motivational killers for me.

I would train with friends, ride different bikes, stop for coffee and my diet wouldn’t be overly strict. Crowie would always sit at weekly volumes of 15,400,80 until July 25 (10 weeks prior to Kona)

10-2 WEEKS OUT:
The body of the block. This period is the foot to the floor, race specific push. Motivation can sky rocket. We are in a sweet spot here where the stress of the race isn’t upon us. Without the stress we may find ourselves overreaching, doing more than prescribed, which can induce risk of sickness and/or injury. Trust your coach. Trust your training.

I always needed to be pulled back during the push phase and would often find myself iron deficient and overtrained. Keep some ‘structure with flexibility’ during this phase. Step away from the grind when not training and develop exterior interest. Sutto would often get his professional athletes to study. This included putting Daniela Ryf through a university course in the lead up to a Kona winning performance.

Final 2 weeks
Anxiety sets in. We start thinking about the event. Stress clouds our motivation and it can completely wipe our desire to race or even do triathlon (WTF ?)You have to recognise that it’s your stress response trying to take control. We are the ones however in the drivers seat. It can feel like a depressive episode. No motivation, low energy. This is when you move yourself into day by day training. Stay professional and tick off your training, you owe it to yourself. The stress whilst uncomfortable does bring absolute clarity and pull any delusional goal setting back to reality.

When you are not training try to do things away from triathlon. Accept that it’s a normal response. Allow the discomfort and get yourself to the event. This period on reflection will become a part of competing that you will miss.