You’re hanging your entire body for the public to see, flaws and all. You are covered in sweat. Most people think that you are wearing a strange outfit instead of an original race uniform or maybe just a tight swimsuit. You think you are incognito with sunglasses and a hat. But underneath the costume, you’re performing half-naked at a sporting event where you paid more than $ 1,000 out of your own pocket to compete. You put your personal reputation up for everyone to see, judge, and comment on your efforts in the race. Hopefully, you’ll be able to salvage the positive stimulus and ignore the other content to stay in a sport that requires tough skin and a lot of guts to compete.
Learn 12 triathlon lessons now without regrets.
1. Be confident. If you think you can, you will. If you think you will fail, you will. What’s your choice? First triathlon, another Ironman race? Get “AA” status? Confirmation of the result reveals our choice. Accept that confidence builds confidence and courage to expand your comfort zone. Don’t be arrogant. It is a fatal flaw.
2. Follow your journey. Unknown destination? Decided. You control that determination. A defined trip helps you know when you got lost. Support your partner’s efforts this season for your KQ’er efforts next year. Family vacation to Hawaii next season? Why not? However, local races are fun, but if your travel plans include other races, continue your adventure. You will never regret the race of your life.
3. Talking about training does not increase your conditioning and worrying about running does not improve your performance. Start beyond inertia with a focus on defined learning goals. Manage your time properly. Measure progress. Race. Then celebrate and talk. You will never regret saying something that you wish you hadn’t said.
4. Train with people faster than you to increase speed. Aspire to your capabilities. Don’t let them affect your confidence. Yes, it will hurt. Everyone else will suffer too. A decade or two of deferred regrets for not doing the best you can will do you more harm than the physical pain of not being abandoned when you made the previous effort.
5. And train yourself to increase your hunger for racing. Yes, it is lonely, but this experience will prepare you for the end of the race to the finish line. Do not expand your energy with the negative thoughts that arise during prolonged workouts. You will never regret thinking positive in practice and racing. Be positive with yourself.
6. Smaller races also build confidence and develop racing skills better than training. Racing exposes gaps and provides feedback faster than training. They are also an opportunity to strengthen the resilience that remaps the brain for rewarding and motivational benefits. You will never regret your investment of time in the knowledge you acquire in any career.
7. Manage your risks, not someone else’s. Plan race event scenarios to maximize recovery if something like a floor or fall occurs. If you don’t prepare for the unexpected, you will regret when the unexpected happens. Don’t waste emotional energy worrying about them. Only be prepared if a tire explosion occurs.
8. Control your time. Manage to avoid time poverty. Schedule time periods established by priority and availability. Include spaces to rest, sleep, and have fun. Your controlled time will minimize time regrets in any look back on your life.
9. Say “no” to “yes” unless: 1.) you can meet your commitments, 2.) a request is aligned with your life’s journey, and 3.) don’t delay your existing commitments. Too many “yeses” lead to stress, perceived lack of ability from others, and possible depression. You will never regret your “no” if you achieve the “yes” that led you throughout your journey.
10. Get on your endorphins. Exercise generates a better body image, self-esteem and increases people’s confidence. You will never regret investing in yourself to feel better about yourself.
11. Ignore any thoughts of being your worst critic. Look for continuous improvement. Keep learning from others. Always be a tri-it-all instead of a know-it-all when opportunities for self-improvement arise. Don’t let temporary setbacks keep you from the sport. Leave them behind like you do with used gear in a transition. People who stop learning regret not knowing more about the possibilities of enhancing their passions.
12. Be the best you can be, not perfect. Focus on performance, not failures or potential problems. There is a reason time is measured in triathlons because no one would achieve a perfect ten. Don’t train for perfection. You are human. Economics dictates the law of diminishing returns. You control when your best effort is good enough. It is before motivation wanes and always before you give up.
You will never regret not having taken another step towards perfection.
At my 25th high school reunion, I spoke with a classmate who embarked on a marathon running trip in each of the 50 states. He had a status to reach his goal later in the year. Her determination inspired me to set a goal to compete in a triathlon in each of the 50 states and in Washington DC. For five years I was stable at only competing in 14 states. Finally my wife Chris said:
“It’s time to sign up and compete or you’ll be a bitter and miserable middle-aged man who will regret a missed opportunity.”
Telling others about my planned trip was not the same as going out and racing. Think of it this way, my inaction put me in an undesirable position to violate one of the main reasons why change management projects are unsuccessful. Or in my case, an uncompleted historic racing trip. Instead of getting angry or getting revenge on her, I followed her advice. She was as wise as a coach as a wife.
Avoid regrets by doing what you can now, instead of waiting until tomorrow to think about what you could have done yesterday. Build relationships with great teammates. Find a mentor and a great coach to learn the sport of others sooner without regret later.
In a display of the best manners, think of your life as usual (forward). You will never be disappointed by not responding to an invitation from life called “RSVP, just regret.”
Did any of you convince your fellow triathletes to trade a regret for a recovery so they could continue to enjoy the sport?