I’ve been a runner since I was six and started BMX racing at the same age. I ran cross country in high school, did my first triathlon when I was 22 and did 13 Ironman races in 6 years. Needless to say, I’ve had a long experience in endurance sports. That doesn’t mean I have all the answers. In fact, going back to the days of being a beginner, of not having any ego about your experience can be a great way to move forward and stay motivated.Too often, we get set in our ways, we have our routines and we can’t break out of them. So what does it mean to go back to being a beginner? It means wiping your mind of all the things you think you know. It means being open to all advice and tips, and actively seeking them out.
Another way is to train with those athletes who are really starting their triathlon journey. Jump into a group ride of beginners or runners. Listen to their questions, and in helping others you may find the holes or missing pieces in the logic of your own training.
It can also mean doing something completely new. Try a new class at the gym or finally take up yoga. Personally, I took a kickboxing class that made me feel like a complete newbie again. It made me realize that I was in cruise control with my training in other areas. It also made me remember the fun of the first years of triathlon, when I was still just learning the basics. And most importantly, it made me understand how key the fundamentals are of any sport.
With your off season starting, now is a great time to take a step back, reflect on where you are headed for 2017, and see how stepping back may be your best way to step forward next season.
Coach AJ Johnson shares that one of the things he loves about coaching is that no two athletes are the same – even when their goals are. He views each person that he works with as a puzzle with unique abilities, motivators, lifestyle and potential. There’s nothing he enjoys more than helping someone incorporate the individual pieces to get the results they looking for – because when it all comes together, it’s amazing!
Coach Mike Ricci is the Founder and Head Coach for D3 Multisport. His coaching style is ‘process-focused’ vs. ‘results-focused.’ When working with an athlete, their understanding of how and why they are improving is always going to take precedence over any race result. Yes, there is an end goal, but in over 2 decades of coaching, experience has shown him that if you do the right work, and for the right reasons, the results will follow.
Coach Mike is a USAT Level III Elite Certified Coach, Ironman University Certified Coach, and Training Peaks Level II Certified Coach. He was honored as the USAT Coach of the Year.
