BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION-TRAIN LIKE AN OLYMPIAN

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about how training like an Olympic athlete can inspire you to reach your fitness goals. 

Now before you say, "Melissa, I don't have the time, energy, will or the talent to train like an Olympic athlete," consider this... all training plans and methods are meant to be modified to fit into your life and tailored to suit your individual goals, fitness level, and skills. So with that being said, consider these things Olympic athletes do to equip and motivate themselves to get results and work them into your life and your training routine as needed to get the results that you desire. In addition, rather than sitting on the couch watching the Olympians run this year, cultivate some of the habits that got them to the games in the first place and get out there and crush your own goals. 

Train Every Day. Now don't confuse that with Run Every Day. Training every day simply means that you should be doing something that gets you closer to your goal, whether that be running, cross-training, or taking an active recovery day. And let me remind you, recovery days can work in your favor if you make them active ones (consider aqua running, massage therapy, or anything else that will speed up your recovery and help you run better.) And a bonus to this? You won't kill yourself on the weekend trying to log all those miles that should have been spread out over the week.

Keep Your Focus on Your Goal. This is a no-brainer. Olympic athletes have a specific goal and we must have one too. Whether that's completing the 15k, 25k or 50k trail runs at Dogwood Canyon or the Bass Pro Half or Full Marathon, our goals are just as important as those of an Olympian. And if you've yet to set a goal, set one and get signed up for it! Putting some of your hard-earned money down to register will motivate you to get out of bed like nothing else can. 

Be Specific in Your Training. This is crucial. Training for a trail run like Dogwood Canyon? Check out the terrain and elevation climb and train for it. Run trails! Prepare yourself to encounter rocks, roots and rivers. Olympians have a clearly defined goal and adopt a clearly defined training plan to meet that goal. So run those hills! Prepare yourself for some water crossings. And if trail running isn't your thing and your goal is a road race like the Bass Pro Marathon, make sure you're running on pavement! I can't stress this enough. I have encountered many runners over the years I have been a running coach who trained inside on a treadmill and then nearly died when they encountered the heat, humidity and hard pavement that comes with road racing outside. So specifically train for your specific run taking into account the distance, the surface, the temperature and the time it will take to finish. 

Fuel Your Body for Peak Performance. So once again, you need to be specific here! Fueling your body well, for peak performance as Olympians do, means doing some research and being proactive. Food is fuel friends! Put in junk and junk is what you'll get out. And remember this, "You can NOT outrun a bad diet." I've tried it and it doesn't work. So remember that you'll not only need to take in the right amount of calories but you'll need to get them from fresh and whole foods that will also supply the vitamins and minerals you will need to undertake your specific training and to recover well from it. Food matters!

Know When to Rest. Olympians walk a fine line between peak performance and burnout and they know when to throw in a few extra recovery days, whether that be to rest physically or mentally (they are connected). Burnout can happen for many reasons, with over-training being at the very top of the list. Not getting the proper rest for an Olympian will not only lead to injury but can mean the difference between winning or losing. And while you might not be winning races, skipping rest when it's needed can mean the difference between a good run and a run spent on the struggle bus trying to keep the wheels from falling off. More importantly though, it will lead to injury and a forced rest. And believe me, a forced rest is no fun! On a side note though, remember this... if you will take a few days off at the onset of an injury or at the first sign of pain, you could quite possibly save yourself from weeks or even months of rehab and downtime. I'd love to say that this knowledge didn't come from personal experience but I'd be lying. Olympians also have this experience, which is the very reason you'll even see them drop out of competition mid-race. Sometimes you just have to know when to save the effort for another day or another race. 

Get a coach. Now before you think you have to spend gobs of money on hiring a certified coach like Olympic teams do, finding a "coach" is as easy as finding an experienced runner  in your running group or maybe even in an online group that is willing to mentor you. Now they might not be able to give you a specific training plan but they can help keep you on the right path and answer general questions. And face it, everyone could learn from someone who has more miles under their belt right? 

So there you have it friends. Whatever it is you're training for, thinking like an Olympian can help you get the most out of each and every workout. And when you find yourself losing momentum or motivation, just remind yourself that there is an Olympian training harder than you at any given moment to reach their dreams. Your dreams might seem smaller in comparison to theirs but they are no less important. So in true Olympics style, learn, embrace and adopt the Olympic motto, "Faster-Higher-Stronger" and strive to get better each and every day by training like a pro. 

Happy Running!!!