read more in the new york times:

I can't face another workout!

In last week’s New York Times article, Gina Kolota cited the limits of workouts and the struggles faced by all athletes:  How much is too much? When do you rest? What is a challenge or self-destructive?  What are the signals for needing a rest day, doing too much too soon, or to little?

“So how to avoid a self-defeating training program? There are no hard and fast rules, because individual athletes vary so much. A training program that one person thrives on will break another, equally talented athlete” she says.

EXACTLY, is what I say!!!

Now we coaches can’t easily get  inside your cells and measure glycogen synthetase, but we certainly can and do study your other responses to  training.  Your training is your response to the questions we ask of you as coaches.  We ask you how far, how hard, and how often and you answer us by your responses in mental fitness, attitude, skill, improvement movement patterns,  race day performances, and  lab results to name a few.

Seems to me that there is no perfect program that exists but that articles like this support the profession of coaching.  It is our job to get inside your head, to study you, to listen, and to apply the appropriate amount of training stress as you make further adaptations.

Even better is it often our job to say NO to extra races, workouts performed when sick or tired, or training through small injuries in the hopes of  overcoming them.

Be honest with yourself about your workouts; log them, study them,  set fitness goals and achieve them.   But learn first and foremost to listen to your body.   It will whisper at first and then SHOUT at you later.  Kind of like that coach you need to hire in 2012. ; )

Check out my new Wellness program in addition to multisport coaching. Make 2012 the year you ask for help in achieving your goals, however big or small.

“I’d like to lose weight coach, but…”

” I was on pace to run ___  but then…”

“I could have been top in my ____  but…”

” I would have made Kona but…”

“I wish I had more time to train but…”

We all love to explain away our shortcomings and are quite skilled at it.  It’s how we protect our egos, recover from disappointment,  and cover up what might be a lack of  preparation for achieving our goals.   It’s part of being human and we all do it.. BUT…

What if this is the year that you listen to yourself and define what are your limiters.  Listen to yourself in conversation with other athletes and listen for the BUT.  Once you do that, you have the beginnings of your 2012 training plan.   If you need an ear, hire a coach to listen for an hour or get yourself a great journal and get started!  ; )

Coach Stacey on the hand cycle:  reconstructive surgery, 8 weeks on crutches, blah blah blah.   Could have eaten bonbons but….

I

In 2012, be an athlete who is satisfied but motivated to do more.   Motivate yourself to kick your BUTs butt in 2012.  No more excuses.

A few good tips for your game from the neck up.  Please email and share your additional thoughts.