They’ve reached the top of their game in their chosen sport or event - must count for something right?
So what can we learn from these athletes to add into our own training?
1. Consistency is key
Regardless of your level, goal or training experience, being a one hit wonder is no good. You may be capable of doing a high intensity, high volume gym session once a month, but that is no good to anyone if it wipes you out for the rest of the month and leaves you not wanting to do anything.
You get good at what you practice. Simple. Want to become more flexible? Work at it consistently. Want to become stronger? Work at it consistently. Much more effective than going hammer and tong at it once in a blue moon.
2. Value rest time
Elite athletes value their rest time and take it as just that - time to rest.
Use rest time wisely and never feel guilty about taking it! Remember, exercise is simply a stimulus to recover. Recovery is where we get our key adaptations to all the hard work we put in. It’s important!
3. Enjoy what you do
All the people at the top of their game enjoy what they do. If you are passionate about something, you tend to work harder at it.
Often when something has become unenjoyable its time for a change. A new challenge can be just the thing to regain enjoyment from your training. Equally, setting goals in your existing schedule can help regain that enjoyment. A challenge such as running a 10k or doing a charity bike ride can be enough to spur you on to enjoy your own training again.
So, these are just a few snippets we can take from the elite sport environment into our own training. Can’t guarantee it’ll make you a pro athlete, but still!