Posted: February 1, 2006

Multisport by Lance Watson: Creating a Positive Training Environment

By Lance Watson.

When training in a group setting, always be positive and encouraging. Go ahead and express your enthusiasm for the workout ahead, point out the wonderful fall colours, the crisp cool air or explain to the group why this is your favorite workout. There is a lot to be learnt through positive expression; one thing being extra fitness gains! If you've ever run while listening to music you know a bit about this. One minute you may be jogging along thinking about how heavy your legs feel or how long your workday was and then suddenly your favorite song starts playing. Halfway through the song you realize you're into a great rhythm and running feels good again. This positive effect could mean that you end up training at the correct pace or that you run the full distance that you intended to before you began to feel a bit off. We all have our own music built right into us and these songs are our thoughts. Positive thoughts are as motivating as your favorite song, so be a meaningful training partner and share these positive thoughts and feelings and let others "tune in" to your positivity. Not only will this reinforce a positive mindset for you but also increase the enjoyment of the workout for the people around you.

When a positive attitude is prevalent amongst your training group you will observe an elevation in the level of training. People work best when they enjoy what they're doing, but let's face it, we're not always feeling 100% positive about the task that is presented to us. Fortunately, we have a responsibility to be respectful training partners and therefore we often get a boost from having a training partner, or two, or three. It is frowned upon to show up to a workout in a terrible mood and potentially bring other people down. Most athletes would never do that and successful athletes are ones who show up to every practice with an optimistic and positive outlook. Once a positive comment is made the dynamic of the group changes and people's individual attitudes follow. Encouraging someone to keep pushing when he or she may be suffering could also be the positive boost you need. It feels good to give someone encouragement and in turn you may also feel an elevation in your workout because you have done something positive. It's a circle that continues to give.

A positive mental state helps you race faster! What starts in practice becomes habit and these habits, good or bad, are prevalent on race day, when the body is under stress. Being emotionally consistent and positive in practice allows you to relax and perform more consistently. It also allows you to easily find that same frame of mind on race day.

Here are some good general rules for positive training and racing:
1. Prior to practice and racing assume that you will feel good even if you are tired, and that the workout will be successful and enjoyable. Analyze your performance after practice and focus on what went well in addition to areas for improvement.
2. Encourage the group to have the same mindset. We've all seen workouts turn around and this has to do with attitude rather than some sort of miraculous physical change.
3. Be positive at the most basic level. This starts with positive thinking and a positive outlook. By bringing a positive attitude to training sessions you are setting yourself up to be positive in racing.
4. Make a decision about your mood before arriving at practice (in fact, probably before you get out of bed in the morning). Of course it would be naïve to expect a state of euphoria for each of your workout sessions every week. But you can decide to have a range. The low end of the range is calm or "neutral." The high end of the range is "happy" or "pumped." Strive to always be in this range.
5. Select people to train with who are positive and encouraging.

Thanks to Suzanne Weckend for her contribution to this piece.

Over the past 20 years, Lance Watson has coached a number of Ironman and Olympic Games Champions.
Beginner and experienced triathletes can contact him at LifeSport Coaching (coach@LifeSport.ca) or visit LifeSport.ca.

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Posted with permission from LifeSport.ca.

© Copyright 2005 Lance Watson Professional Coaching Inc.