Training
The only way to complete and compete is through training. Sounds obvious but I needed an opening line.
What I really want to talk about is failure. Failure is your friend. Embrace it and don't be upset when it happens.
As you train you are going to push yourself and test your limits over distance, speed and differing gradients. Inevitably you are going to fail to achieve what you wanted to and focus on these few sessions instead of the many successful ones you've had and will have. Don't get hung up on them.
Failing allows you to analyse what went wrong and how to (hopefully) avoid it in the future:
Did you set off too fast?
Have you set your goal beyond your current capabilities?
Are you wearing too much/little kit?
Have you had a hard training session the day before?
Did you sleep well last night?
Did you fuel right for what you were doing?
Did you have too much to drink last night ... and ate too much pizza/curry?
By understand what went wrong you can adjust your plan accordingly and ensure you reduce your chances of failure in the future.
Alcohol
One of the 1st things you're told as a triathlete is to give up alcohol because it's full of empty calories and gives you the munchies.
I have given up alcohol and do feel better for it but there are plenty of people who race faster than me who haven't.
I need to be better with food. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not a pro and I'm only doing it for the enjoyment. I eat more healthily but the odd treat won't kill you. Don't try and live like a monk because there's no point and you'll end up hating the training eventually quitting.
What I really want to talk about is failure. Failure is your friend. Embrace it and don't be upset when it happens.
As you train you are going to push yourself and test your limits over distance, speed and differing gradients. Inevitably you are going to fail to achieve what you wanted to and focus on these few sessions instead of the many successful ones you've had and will have. Don't get hung up on them.
Failing allows you to analyse what went wrong and how to (hopefully) avoid it in the future:
Did you set off too fast?
Have you set your goal beyond your current capabilities?
Are you wearing too much/little kit?
Have you had a hard training session the day before?
Did you sleep well last night?
Did you fuel right for what you were doing?
Did you have too much to drink last night ... and ate too much pizza/curry?
By understand what went wrong you can adjust your plan accordingly and ensure you reduce your chances of failure in the future.
Alcohol
One of the 1st things you're told as a triathlete is to give up alcohol because it's full of empty calories and gives you the munchies.
I have given up alcohol and do feel better for it but there are plenty of people who race faster than me who haven't.
I need to be better with food. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not a pro and I'm only doing it for the enjoyment. I eat more healthily but the odd treat won't kill you. Don't try and live like a monk because there's no point and you'll end up hating the training eventually quitting.