by Coach Wendy

We all do it! Whether it be whilst we are running along the side of the lake, cruising up and down the pool or spinning around the familiar road circuit. When you're out there training on a beautiful day, clear skies, warm sun, training with mates, telling stories or sharing secrets, it's so easy to do and it is easy to do it when it comes to racing too! Ah yes, we are talking about our ability to dissolve ourselves into our subconscious and daydreaming.

Now some could argue that it's not a bad way to spend the day BUT if we are training for an event why not capitalize on the opportunity to practice the art of mentally focusing on what you are doing now. So often in race review time, athletes will say, "I don't now what happened in the hour" or "I just seemed to switch off and cruised that section" or "I spent the first half of the race looking at the crowd"!!

This concept of daydreaming was brought home to me yesterday when I was riding with a work colleague who is new to the triathlon world. As we were riding along I asked her what she was thinking about. The replies ranged from what the cows were doing in the paddock, to how the new heart rate monitor chest strap was feeling, from the dinner for tonight's family meal, to thoughts if it was better to give an aggressive driver the fingers or wave to them!!!

On listening to the replies, I asked how she rides and what she feels when she is riding? Her reply of "I'm just enjoying being out here" made me smile. The refreshing simplicity of her answer brought back to me a saying of a great friend of mine "to always remember to enjoy the journey".

I know from experience that it is often easy to forget the journey and get hung up on the racing & training. Enjoying the journey of gaining a new and exciting level of fitness and of achieving goals is a fantastic wellness ride, one that provides your life and those who share it with much richness.

Maximizing your investment through smart training habits will provide you with an even greater return. Learning to be aware of how your body or equipment is feeling, thinking about your technique, developing an awareness of others around you, sensing when something is not quite comfortable, these are the components of awareness training.

The old expression of playing in your own sandpit very much applies to racing and by practicing your awareness skills when you are training, it will become second nature for you when your big event arrives. Next month I will outline some specific awareness drills for training, so in the meantime get that bucket and spade out and enjoy the experience.

Smart training!

Read "Balancing Blocks: Training Awareness Part Two" here

Click here to return to the Articles page