5 Transformative Life Lessons from 5 Years of Triathlon Training to Inspire You.
Follow your passion, ignite your inner fire.
Yesterday I finished Ironman 70.3 here in Mallorca, Spain. This is my 5th half Ironman and 12th triathlon race. I loved every minute of it!
The hard, the painful, the energizing adrenaline, the people, the scenic views, the blue waters — all of it!
Lots of goats and sheep cheering us on, from the side of the roads — Loved it!
It is the immense feeling of accomplishment when crossing the finish line after 6 hours of non-stop, heart-pumping, caffeine-doping swim, bike, and run.
So, what’s in it for YOU?
You meet like-minded passionate people.
You form a new healthy habits.
You learn something new & sharpen your skills.
Looking back over these 5 years, I have observed how triathlon, and the community, reshaped my life for the better.
Here is how training and competition transformed my life, and can hopefully inspire YOURs:
#1. DISCIPLINE.
My first few triathlon races were miserable, painful, and filled with injuries. I did not train consistently, and I missed the whole point of it in the first two years.
I know that you know this, but this is the most fundamental thing there is — consistency.
Without consistency, the system does not work. I tried shortcuts and kept skipping small workouts. Because they don’t matter. Well, butter my biscuit! Was I wrong!!
The training does NOT have to be hard to get results. It just has to be consistent.
Next time you think of postponing something, just do a little bit of it, do it now. Consistency leads to a happy YOU.
#2. ACCOUNTABILITY
Not showing up for a session that you signed up for is embarrassing, and it sucks to let people down.
The peer pressure effect is real. In a good way. Peer pressure is what you need to get things done.
Having someone to keep you accountable is priceless.
Do yourself a big favor, find that one accountability partner, community, or anyone, to help you show up.
Join a local group or club and get involved.
#3. FOCUS.
Do ONE thing at a time.
Triathlon has helped me sharpen my focus to do each session with intent.
Plan each session and do the session with specific intent. Meaning — variety. Not only does this keep things interesting, but it also builds toward progress.
This goes for healthy eating habits as well.
Plan your week, block the time, and do the thing you are supposed to do.
#4. HUMILITY.
You train very hard. You spent 6 to 8 months training for the D-day race. You’re going to kick some butt big times!
Guess what, another 2000 athletes, of any age and, any shape are going to hand you your ass on a golden plate!
When I got passed by some 50 years old, I got the memo real quick.
My ego went from podium-level athlete mentality to just a dude on a bike with swim goggles, lol!
That being said, don’t compare yourself to others, everyone has different background. You do you.
Listening to other athletes, I heard stories of life-awaking health crises, lost loved ones, and family reunions; some people went through hell. They are just happy to be there and enjoy the moment.
Life surely puts things in perspective.
Everyone has a story. Stay humble.
#5. PERSEVERANCE.
As Stallone put it: “Keep moving forward”
I know, it’s a cliché. Things change. And they always do, don’t they?
Most of us have gone through injuries or life emergencies that put our training or life, on a complete stop.
Knowing things will change will help you keep moving through the tough times.
Just because it’s slow, it doesn’t mean that you are not making progress.
Keep plugging in!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
I guess, what I would love to convey is — follow your passion, stick to it, go deep in that rabbit hole.
It will open new doors & expand your horizons.
I hope all of you out there find that soul-feeding activity to better your life.
About the Author
Hi there! I‘m Tomas Janik, a real estate investor, developer, hospitality, and proptech enthusiast.
I love world travel and learning.
If you’re thirsty for more valuable insights on world travel, healthy lifestyles, real estate investing, and hospitality trends, then buckle up and hit that follow button! Trust me, you won’t regret it.
I am the founder of RitzandHammock.com, an early startup focusing on converting vacant commercial spaces into cash-flowing assets.
Connect with me on Linkedin.
Happy reading, my friends!
