Triathlon Training

Results happen naturally when motivation is pure

by Brad Kearns

In my experience there are huge misperceptions about the true secrets to success in endurance sports. You have to live a healthy, balanced life to really enjoy the sport and realize your potential. You have to muzzle the obsessive/compulsive tendencies and always cultivate that pure motivation and protect your health. It's okay to be fiercely competitive, but you must walk away from every workout and every race with a smile and a sense that you are building your health and well being rather than compromising it.

I will discuss some techniques to cultivate a pure motivation. In doing so, you will tap into a source of energy and inspiration that will help you experience peak performances beyond your imagination.

Three ways to cultivate a pure motivation

1) Destroy and Re-Frame Self-Limiting Beliefs : We all carry around tons of baggage in the form of self-limiting beliefs. "I suck in the heat, swim is my worst event, I hate riding in packs, my stomach always shuts down if I go longer than 5 hours, my competition is better than me, I'm not a natural runner...". We harbor these beliefs in real life too, but the effect on performance is not as visible as it is in athletics. Thus, athletics can be a wonderful vehicle for personal growth...or it can be just a mirror for your issues, compulsions and self-limiting beliefs and behaviors that you practice in real life too.

The key is to challenge your beliefs that are self-limiting and re-frame them into something positive and realistic. In my example, I discussed how I had a negative attitude about swimming and believed that my competition was better than me. I changed the belief of "Swim is my worst event and I can't keep up with these great athletes" to "I am committed to improving my swim, making it my primary training focus and giving 100% effort on race day." Without swimming any extra yards in training, I immediately improved my competitive performance, just by getting out of my own way.

2) Choose a Positive Attitude : There is no better example of positive attitude than Lance Armstrong. Lance told me that when he was diagnosed with cancer he had "no choice but to remain positive." If Lance can do this with a life of death situation, we can certainly do this with something that is fun and games like your triathlon career. When you encounter negativity towards a workout or a race, understand that your motivation is impure. Choose a positive attitude to return to your center of balance and happiness.

That means if you have a bad race and go slower than you had hoped, you can still appreciate your trip to Hawaii and the chance to compete in a healthy, athletic endeavor. Competing in endurance sports is a privilege and a gift - many people do not have the health or the means. Don't waste the gift with a negative attitude. I've seen many athletes lose their focus, perform poorly and burn out - all because of a negative attitude. Conversely, I've seen some of the greatest athletes in history perform extraordinarily due to the power of a positive attitude. We all have.

3) Make Your Health Your #1 Priority : Always govern your actions in training and in life by asking yourself, "Is this healthy?" Every single one of your workouts should promote physical, mental and emotional health. The choices you make in your career, personal life, leisure time, grocery store - all of your choices should promote health and well being. Nothing is more important than your health for without it you have nothing. Even a ton of money cannot be enjoyed unless you are healthy.

There are more details about these concepts in my book Power Month - a 30-day program to Change Your Life featuring daily Action Plans in the areas of Diet, Exercise, Health and Personal Growth. It is a holistic and natural approach to improving your life and becoming a better athlete. Details are available at www.bradventures.com