Champions are made behind closed doors.

TRAINING BREAKDOWN

“THE HARSH REALITY OF HITTING YOUR GOALS AS A RUNNER AND CYCLIST”

By Emma O’Toole

It’s been a wonderful few weeks in the world of endurance sports with the Tour de France and the conclusion of the Paris Olympics last Sunday. There has been heartbreak, overwhelming joy, mechanicals, injuries and a whole host of weather conditions!

”The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” - Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was right; nobody knows what it feels like for you to get those runs in when you’ve had a really busy week at work, or how it feels to set the alarm so early on a Saturday morning, your one chance to lie-in, in order to get your long ride in before it gets unbearably hot or you have family commitments to attend.

The harsh reality of hitting your goals as a runner and cyclist are: priorities and sacrifice.

→ Prioritizing your training above other hobbies and commitments.

→ Prioritizing your nutrition.

→ Prioritizing sleep and recovery.

→ Sacrificing time with loved ones.

→ Sacrificing social events.

This is far from the glitz and glam that comes with crossing that race line, smashing your goal and feeling the best feeling in the world, which I liken to a mixture of elation and exhaustion!

It is also something that is vastly overlooked; everybody wants a piece of the finish line or podium success, but most don’t want to put in the work to achieve it. It can also be quite a lonely place to be, which is why having a support network of like-minded individuals who ‘get-it’ around you is so important to your continued success in the sports. (join our free Facebook community here!)

Nonetheless, it’s by these sacrifices and priorities that you become a champion and learn just how much you can achieve.

More than that though, it is, and should be an enjoyable process!

Setting yourself a goal and putting the work in to achieve it builds resilience and discipline; both of which will help you in other aspects of your life. There are no shortcuts.

Sometimes we need guidance with these sacrifices and priorities to strike that balance for progression and not overstep the mark. Overstepping the mark can lead to overtraining, lack of motivation and an all-or-nothing approach.

A progressive training plan is a great way to document your progress and reach your goals. If you need any help with your training plan, please check out my previous newsletter on the 6 steps to building a successful training plan by clicking here or reply to this email and I’ll be in touch.

You control your success as a runner and cyclist, Champions are made behind closed doors.

Jemima Montag, in her post-race interview at the Olympics, best encapsulates this. This <2 minute interview is inspirational and what our sports are about.

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