Training Tip Tuesday #13: The 6 Million Dollar Year

It's a new year. That means new plans, new goals, new ambitions. Here in America we are really, really good at goal setting. We love to make plans about how we're going to improve, what we're going to do better and the incredible new breakthroughs we're going to have! The problem is that the actual work required to reach those goals isn't as fun and grandiose as the idea is. Before you think I'm pointing fingers here I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with this as much as the next person. The process of coming up with ideas and planning new things is FUN. No work is required yet! It's the working at it that sucks.

Many of us are told from a very young age to "dream big," "shoot for the stars," that we can be "anything we want to be." Others of us maybe didn't receive such encouragement as youths but we've developed big goals and dreams for ourselves along the way. We always want improve and make ourselves into a better version of ourselves, that's the whole goal of triathlon right? To get better, stronger, faster than before. I mean… we HAVE the technology.



The Ironman motto is- "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE," and we try to embody that in our every day lives by constantly attempting the impossible. (Then immediately blogging about it and instagraming all the photos we took).

Well I'm not here to discount that or rain on any parade. However, as we think about next year and begin planning our season I want to explore the idea that maybe we don't need to do anything incredible or drastically different to get better. Maybe we don't have to have 1700 followers on twitter or 89 likes on our Facebook post to be a success. Maybe we don't need to take our training to a whole new level or do anything radically different.

Success in endurance sport is usually marked by quiet, consistent hard work. Whether you're a fan of WWE wrestling or not (I'll come right out and say it- I'm not), this quote by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson sums up the point I'm trying to get across quite nicely-

"Success isn't always about "greatness,' it's about consistency. Consistent, hard work garners success. Greatness will come."

My goal this year is to be the best triathlete I can be. I want to be successful. I have big goals, big dreams and big aspirations. But one thing I've realized is that success in triathlon doesn't come from one incredible workout or one amazing session. It comes from consistent and quiet dedication to the task at hand. I don't need to do anything crazy. I just need to show up, day in and day out.

So my goal for this next year isn't just to win races or qualify for the world championship. It's to be consistent, maybe quiet at times, but to get the work done.

A Bible verse that I've been reflecting on a lot lately is 1st Thessalonians 4:11-

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands…"

I don't really like minding my own business or being quiet but maybe it's something I should work on.

So here's to 2014. Here's to big dreams and a strong work ethic. Here's to quiet, unassuming dedication to excellence. Here's to your best season yet and the fruition of your labor. Nothing crazy, nothing new. Here's to getting the work done.