You get the idea…
Most of the triathletes that I work with or interact with are suffering from what I like to call “wrong shoe size syndrome”. Thinking with only the end in mind, these folks:
- Identify fast people.
- Identify what those people do for training / racing.
- Copy + Implement their training plans / protocols.
- Hope for the best.
Think about that for a second. Where else does this occur? First example I can think of is cheating on a quiz in high school (find smart gal/guy, copy, hope for best). Another less pertinent example would be the Talented Mr. Ripley, where Mr. Ripley assumes another man’s identity for his own. In either case, the end result is less than desired.
Why then do we think that copying another plan or training protocol is a good idea? Truth be told, it isn’t a good idea — it’s just easy. It’s easier than what it takes to figure out your own personal plan, based on your strengths/weaknesses, based on your past training and racing experience, targeted to your race goals and manageable within the context of your life/daily schedule.
I think folks would much rather focus on the physical work (get HR to Zone 4 for 15 mins, rest 5 mins, repeat) than on the mental work. In all honesty though, the few super fast folks I have coached are not only physically gifted — they were all blessed with a superior ability to focus on what needed to be done. Whether it meant changing technique/form, improving core strength or flexibility, or planning a season, these folks were equally capable.
In Competitive Triathlon in 10Hours a Week (book and/or free download), I outline a simple, succinct process for self-assessment and schedule-building. It’s a mini roadmap for training and racing success, based on the principles that more work is, well, just more. The “right work” is what gets the results you want. So next time you are suiting up for a workout, ask yourself if you know why you are doing it (not just what you are doing).
Happy (SMART) Training,
Coach P
Hi, I'm Patrick McCrann. 
