This week, I would like to build from last week's message anchored around patience, the journey and meeting yourself where you are currently at. As inspired as you may have been to get grounded and remain pragmatic, i think it is important for every Purple Patch athlete to get applied in their training approach for 2022.  Let’s strip it down to essentials, as far from me repetitive, this is a critical piece of your year of performance ahead.  I want to remind you of something that every Purple Patch athlete would be well served to remember:

From world class to someone starting on their performance journey, a simple fact remains.  Whenever we manage to build a recipe of performance of which there is a consistent and integrated endurance training plan, that includes strength and conditioning, is supported by important habits of nutrition, and has a backbone of adequate recovery - something always happens.  The athlete accelerates.

This is the outline of the Purple Patch Pillars of Performance.  Endurance-Strength-Nutrition-Recovery.  As we kick-off 2022 please come back to these.  Don’t get duped by the quick fixes or needs to accelerate performance. You don’t need to and you shouldn’t.  I would like to see:

• The rest of the month of January building momentum and consistency. Most of us had unpredictable holiday periods, so the initial months should be about rhythm, feel-good training. Ramping into it with caution.
• Lean into the recovery. This month it is mostly about really dialing in the low stress easier sessions.  We still have plenty of technical and my favorite phrase for 40-60% of our training should be soul-filling.  Really low stress.
• Obsess over strength.  Some folks have nailed it in the postseason.  Others, like me, did a mixed bag and have to commit now forward. Either way, we nail strength and conditioning.
• Fuel following workouts - hydrate in the day.  Every single Purple Patch athlete should be consuming protein and carbs following sessions, and equally dialing in great daily hydration.  Look for a boat load of complementary education from the folks at FuelIn, but I would also pop a thought in folks head. This is a great time to get dialed in with nutrition - and align with the team there.
• Set a target. By valentines day the goal is to reflect on five to six weeks and realize  fitness has been built by mental and physical health is still at a premium. You will – appropriately - build fatigue from training.  Don’t let it be in the initial six weeks.  Be patient.

Even outliers, such as folks heading to the ‘St George Hawaii IRONMAN’ in May should adopt this approach in the initial six weeks. We have time!

Within this vein, I thought you might enjoy this reading from a couple of good friends of mine, Brad Stulburg and Steve Magness.  Both have been on the Purple Patch Podcast, and their principles and approach mirrors many elements of Purple Patch.  Worth a skim through to help ground yourself. Enjoy.  https://thegrowtheq.com/nailing-the-basics-is-simple-not-easy-the-growth-equation-manifesto/

Hope that helps the perspective.

Matt