It never fails... Someone will always ask a coach or trainer, and have even asked me on occasion, "I don't have time to run a 10k during the week, but I want to run a faster 10k, what can I do?" Such a dangerous question and mentality to have when approaching training. If you look at any aspect of life, work, hobbies, sports, relationships, studying... it doesn't matter what, if you don't practice the specific activity, you will not get much better at it. You really can't become a better accountant if you are working in HR. You won't paint any better if you are sculpting statues. You can't run a 10k any faster unless you run a 10k.



The danger in approaching fitness this way is that it can cause people to train improperly or towards something that won't get them closer to their goal and in the effort to accomplish their goal, they injure themselves or see no progress. There is a process and a method to achieving goals, to be able to run a 10k, you first have to be able to run 5k. That being said, there is always dig work and strengthening the base so that one can actually do the thing they are after. Shortcuts, "simple tricks," "effective substitutes," or any seemingly similar activity cannot replace the actual skill. Simply enough, if you want to run a 10k faster, you have to make the time to run the 10k. Priorities are what you will make them, but if you want something bad enough, you need to make it a priority.

Finding time and space in a day can be a difficult task. Many times you feel so tired that when you have that free hour, you want to get off your feet and recover. These are the times that you find out who you are, do you rest and lose the hour, or do you push through the exhaustion and do the work for yourself. Sometimes you have to get up an earlier, sometimes you have to get home a little later. One thing I have learned with myself is that in my pursuit to accomplish great things, I have to be willing to lose a little sleep and feel tired. Another thing I have learned is that you adapt and become stronger in all aspects of your life making these sacrifices.

Placing more focus on my running, swimming and biking for the triathlon has taken me to higher levels of fitness. Adding the weight routines and interval training has made me stronger and faster at performing these skills. I am getting closer and closer to being able to meet my goal. My running is in top shape. My biking can use some work, but I feel strong and smooth and can go for as long as I need to. Swimming has been the struggle, but it's getting better every time I go out to swim. It's all coming from prioritizing the time to train for the goal I want to achieve. The priority is to do a triathlon, and performing the skills of a triathlon is the only way to accomplish it.

Every Day... A Little Stronger