Growth isn’t linear
Nor is it only measured by the numbers
When I got started in triathlon, I somewhat naively thought that my progress might look like this:
I’d deluded myself into thinking my paces, my power, my race times—certainly after training for weeks, months, years on end—would result in constant improvement and success.
There’s no doubt, looking back where I started, that I’ve improved. At my first Olympic distance triathlon, I had been swimming, cycling, and running for about five months, but I truly had no idea what I was doing. I finished with a respectable time, and I’m lucky to say, every Olympic race I’ve done since has been faster. But, not every race has been faster than the last. My progress has looked more like this:
Looking at any aspect of my training and racing—my half-Ironman run pace, my threshold bike power, my critical swim speed, etc.—tells the same story.
Progress isn’t linear.
From day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year, I sometimes get faster, and often get slower or show no improvement.
Getting faster is only one measure of growth.
Assuming the my effort isn’t the issue, there may be other reasons for regressing or plateauing. Some of these are within my control and some are not.
No matter what the case may be, I try very hard not to let these numbers affect my self-perception. It’s okay to push for better results, but it is not okay to identify with them by saying things like
I’m slow
I’m never going to improve
I’m a terrible athlete
Every now and then, I fall into that trap.
I witnessed some amazing success from my teammates this weekend at their races. Tons of PRs. A bunch of podiums. I am thrilled for their achievements, which are testaments to their hard work.
This post is not for them (right now at least).
To be honest, I was a little jealous. I did not race this past weekend. I do have not much to show in my training lately in terms of results. My swim is slower than it was this time last year. I’ve been struggling to get through a run lately without stopping in the port-a-john (twice this past Sunday). I haven’t ridden my bike outside since last October. Looking ahead to my first race of the year at IM Chattanooga 70.3 in three weeks, it was difficult to avoid feeling down on myself, to be frustrated, to make excuses, and to question my training. Seeing others have success exacerbated all that.
So I took a step back and remembered how far I’ve come. I’d encourage everyone to do the same every once and awhile.
I’ll bet there were quite a few folks I didn’t hear about who also raced this weekend. Folks who worked their butts off in training but didn’t podium or PR or have a major breakthrough on the race results page.
To everyone who had that kind of weekend, I say, job well done.
You’re a champion in my book if you gave it the best you had, you’ve taken your results in stride and you wake up tomorrow and get after it all over again.
It’s true, I may not PR at Chattanooga. I may not even have a good race. I may not have the results to prove I’ve had only three days off from training since December 31. Growth doesn’t work like that. And I accept it.
On May 20, I will jump in the Tennessee River and pour my heart and soul into my swim, bike, and run over the course of 70.3 miles. No matter what my finishing time says, I will have done something no one else has done, which is to have lived my life, walked in my shoes, stepped up to that line, and given it everything I could.
That is growth in my book.
I’ll be participating in Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 on May 20, 2018 and Ironman Chattanooga 140.6 on September 30, 2018. Follow me on my triathlon journey here.
