Congratulate yourself

It is great to have big goals and to push yourself hard to reach them but it is important not to dwell on your shortcomings. As an athlete it pays to develop a selective memory. Learn from your mistakes, but remember the good stuff. It is easy to leave [...]

How to get coached

Coaches are important and many athletes have one…sometimes even two that work together.  They help take you to new levels and they help see your weaknesses from a different perspective.  

Generally, a coach is not only giving you a training plan, but they’ll also be following up with how each particular [...]

Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation



despair

What is your underlying motivation for doing well in triathlon? Material aspects of competition, such as prizes, trophies, money? More immaterial, egocentric aspects of competitive events, such as recognition and respect from peers? Or how about  the desire for self-development, and to challenge yourself?

Sports psychology studies emphasize that athletes should be encouraged to improve performance using intrinsic (within yourself) rather than extrinsic (outside yourself) motivators. This is because, with extrinsic rewards, your self-confidence and overall satisfaction with training and performance are defined by external factors, which are out of your control.

For example, if you place poorly in a race, despite having performed above personal expectations, you may be very self-critical and get depressed, and this may affect future performance. If performance is evaluated by external factors, such as what other people may think of you, your objectivity goes out the window. You need this objectivity to learn from failures, and face personal challenges that may be inhibiting your further development.

Continue reading Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation

Get your kit on

Sometimes, the hardest part of a workout is getting out the door in the first place. Once that step is overcome it almost always goes better than expected. One trick if you are feeling particularly un-motivated is to simply get your kit on. Just commit to pulling on those [...]

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