Name Your Beast and Do Your Best
Training, Motivation
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October 21, 2013
Did you give it your "all" today?
If you're like me, you might not go "all out" without a goal to crush, a project to complete, or a beast to vanquish. Since I completed my biggest fitness challenge, Ironman Wisconsin, I've become more relaxed in my pursuit of athletic goals. I didn't plan a race calendar this year and tend to engage fitness challenges as they come, often without planning. This informal approach to racing may create problems for athletes that require more structure for motivation - but let me let you in on a little secret.Momentary Motivation
Please allow me to share my strategy for motivation - it can be applied to fitness pursuits or any other goal. Whether I'm cycling, running, or just swimming a few laps on a recovery day, I find my motivation by creating momentary challenges. Creating sudden inspiration helps add quality and combats training monotony. Here are a few of my favorite ways to add Momentary Motivation to workouts:- Swimming:
- Ditch the pool and head to a safe open water option for a workout.
- Jump in with a swim team at your recreation center, and ask (respectfully) if you can participate in a portion of their workout.
- Pick another swimmer to "race" against during your pool workout.
- Biking:
- Find an uninterrupted one mile stretch and perform 5 x 1 hard mile repeats with a mile rest between repetitions.
- Find a suitably challenging hill and perform hill repeats.
- Try 1/4 mile sprints, starting at a standstill and increasing your speed over the entire distance, noting your top speed at the finish.
- Running:
- Choose a distance or time interval to hammer out a stiffer pace.
- Drop back from your running group (or site another runner) and chase them down.
- Ditch paved surfaces and head to a trail for off-road running.
Name Your Beast
Just because you don't have a race on your calendar doesn't mean you shouldn't challenge yourself on a regular basis. Compete with yourself and create a goal on the fly within every workout, every day at work, even in social occasions. Ignore the context and create your own motivation. Just because your rivals and a race t-shirt aren't in the picture is no reason to coast. All you have to do is pick your venue, and name your "beast".My Two Favorite "Beasts" From 2013
1. "Hiking" The Manitou Incline
Early one January morning, on a business trip to Colorado Springs, I woke up and Googled some ideas for trail running. I was treated with search results that led me to the Manitou Incline. A quick car trip in the early morning darkness resulted, and I found myself in Manitou Springs, at the foot of a formidable challenge. [caption id="attachment_1091" align="alignleft" width="165"] The last step[/caption] The Incline is truly a beast. This "hiking trail" is mile long stairway comprised of railroad ties, pipes, and rocks that boasts a 2,000 foot elevation gain that leaves you gulping for air, with only the thud of your heart to propel you further along into the thinning atmosphere. I had hoped to make it to the top in less than 20 minutes, but that time flew past. Olympic short track skating champion Apolo Ohno on the Manitou Incline:It's the one workout where people truly have to face something that is unbeatable. It is you against yourself. – via New York Times
Ohno's quote has come to embody the basis of my Momentary Motivation, using the most classic conflict of "man vs himself" to inspire spontaneous challenges. The next time you're in the Denver area - hit The Incline and let me know how it goes.
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