Q:

At the start of the season, I set up a very lofty goal for myself to qualify for Kona.  I started with real excitement and passion but now that we are a few months in, I am finding it very difficult to stay committed to it.  What do you suggest I do, so that I can accomplish the goal?

A:

The first thing I would say is that you are not alone.  That said, I am going to give you some very real words, instead of simply puffing you up and proclaiming, “You can do it!”.  Now, there is no doubt you can get back on track, but I cannot bypass this question without making a more general statement.  First, let me give you some guidance on what to do.

There is a strong chance that you may have begun your journey with a little too much passion and vigor and now find yourself a little fatigued and tired; both emotionally and physically.  That is ok and something to recuperate from without issue. The best thing you can do is take a step back and walk away from the sport for a few days, clean out, and don’t think about triathlon at all.  If you are truly struggling, there is little help from simply driving forward and deeper toward angst. During this break, you want to heal and rest and ensure you get plenty of sleep.

This said, it can also be a time for a period of reflection.  Why do I say this? Well, I often have athletes who come to me with great aspirations, dreams, and goals. They fall in love with the concept of success.  The problem is that they often fail to truly consider what it will take to achieve that success.  Do they fall in love with the journey?  The process? The truth is that what you want to accomplish involves plenty of sacrifice, daily grind, and complete commitment that may dissolve some of the finer opportunities in weekly life.  It is tough, make no mistake. So when taking a step back, truly consider if your goal fits into your current life and what you want to do. Don’t worry, there is no right answer and there are plenty of other great things to accomplish, but it is better you are honest with yourself now.

If you go through the process and decide you do want to drive forward, you will be ready and equipped to truly nail it and to embrace the process.

I hope this helps.  MD