Training has continued in the right direction since my last
ramble round these parts. A refocus was due following the completion of the
first half of the campaign and no better time to sharpen the lens than exactly
six months prior to the main event of my season, the Amsterdam Marathon.
Mentally drawing that line in the sand is helping me look
forward and leave behind everything that went before, and that includes the
biscuits, cakes, deserts etc. As my strength coach recently advised,
"don't reward yourself with treats, you're not a dog", and right she
is, until the end of October at least!
The new approach to a cleaner diet is certainly leaving me
feeling better. Omitting unnecessary sugars has left me with more energy than
before. A recent 5mile PB of 29.29 tends to back up the decision, but like all
progress, any that I am enjoying is a result of a number of decisions
bearing fruit.
Having good people to help and guide you is key and between
my run coach, strength trainer and physical therapist, I have people who are not only
highly trained but, also, only want me to succeed, so I can trust their
judgement and advice without doubt.
Making yourself aware of the habits and practices of elite
sportspeople is always helpful in improving your own game, regardless of what field you participate in.
The recently retired champion jockey of twenty consecutive
seasons, AP McCoy, is an interesting example of a hugely successful sports
person who surrounded himself with the best possible people to help him achieve.
A jockey’s career would often be seen as an individual
journey rather than a team effort but McCoy changed that. Aside from the
obvious need to partner with the best owners, trainers and their horses, he
also had the daily support of a chauffeur driver and a personal assistant to ensure he only
needed to concern himself with the all important act of winning.
No point him driving the length and breath of Great Britain
to end up tired and unable to preform when he arrived at the racecourse.
Little need for him to concern himself directly with the many media and
non-performance related engagements requested of him. Leave that work to
someone else and let me get on with booting home the winners, thought The Champ.
That's not to say the more recreational or amateur
sportsperson is going to hire a personal chef or masseuse to follow them about,
but to realise McCoy's need for dedication to the only thing that mattered
helps us understand what is required to be the best we can be.
As non-professional sportspeople it can sometimes be harder
to facilitate building that support network around us but evidence would
suggest that the more qualified assistance you receive, the more successful you
will be.
Sometimes we hope for a change of result yet keep practicing
the same habits. We learn from this and decide to make some changes to our
practices. Now you are moving in the right direction but don't always expect to
find all the answers yourself. Others are on hand to help you. You just need to
look out for them and make them want to be part of the team you will build.
