End Goals

I saw an interesting blog on the TriSutto website today, one that provoked some thoughts, so I thought I might write about them.

This was the blog

I have said numerous times before that I don't always agree with everything that Brett Sutton says, particularly in the realm of swimming. However, when I do agree with Mr Sutton, I tend to agree in a big way. Such is the case with the blog above.

I was reminded of how important the message of the above blog is when I watched an athlete I know perform far below their own expectations in a big race recently. In my view part of what went wrong at this race was that the athlete went in too focused on the end result rather the process. 

The athlete isn't one of mine and so I am not intimately acquainted with their preparation, but in all my recent conversations with the individual, all the focus had been on the result rather than how to get there. To me that is indicative of their mental focus heading into the race

Now this individual's goal was a big one, and I understand that at a point the focus needs to be on racing those around you rather that solely on your own event. But, in my view this person's focus on the result rather than the process caused them not to race smart, instead overextending and hitting the wall in a big way in pursuit of this end result.

Racing can be a nervous and stressful experience. Some nerves are good for you on race day, but excessive nerves or stress become counterproductive quickly. Anything you can do to minimize the stress that you put yourself under is going to have positive benefits. Focusing on the process you need to follow rather than the end result is a key way to reduce the pressure you put yourself under, and in turn the amount of stress you feel.

In triathlon I have always been taught to focus on the process rather than the end goal. Whether that process is training properly, eating right, getting enough sleep or executing the race plan. Each step of triathlon can be executed well, or executed poorly. When you focus on the process you make sure you are getting each of these steps right, doing them to the best of your ability. When you do this your result on race day almost takes care of itself. If you have done the work and executed the plan properly then you will get to the finish line knowing you have got the best result you are capable of. This holds true whether you are hoping to finish your first sprint distance triathlon or whether you are hoping to win at Kona. If you have the capability to be the world champion and you do the necessary training, then on race day you don't have to worry about the result, but rather you only need to worry about following your plan. Execute the process, the rest will take care of itself.