Cutting Endurance Corners

I recently went into my local organic food coop to get my multicolored veggie fix for the week. After selecting my organic meats (is there any such thing as inorganic meat?) I worked my way to the register. At the register I asked the woman for a plastic bag to keep the meat isolated from my veggies. The woman explained to me that they no longer keep plastic bags at the register and that I would need to remember to grab a plastic bag at the meat counter. Given my obsession with service, I asked her why they made that change. She explained that the register area had gotten too crowded for the staff. The staff had decided to cut corners for their comfort rather than service their customer.

In triathlon training, cutting or not cutting endurance corners can be an excellent predictor of success/improvement. What do I mean by cutting corners?

• Do you procrastinate starting your workout?
• Is your workout typically a little short in time, distance or effort?
• Does your transition time steadily increase with distractions at home?
• Do you ignore your intensity caps to have fun?
• Do you ride aero for only short periods of time?
• Do you obsess on whether or not to squeeze in x race before your A race?
• Do you eat whatever is in front of you instead of taking the time to eat right?
• Does your volume of sleep each night vary by at least an hour?

How do I know all of the above so well? Because we all struggle with the times that training becomes work. At some point, a small part of our brains remind us that there is an easier way. We start to see all the “outs” we can take from our training. The short cuts scream like billboards for our attention. Fatigue just adds a hint of neon to these already very attractive signs.

How do I ignore the short cuts?

• I follow the plan as written. If it says run 2:30 I don’t run 2:20.
• I increase sleep and try to hold a consistent bed time.
• I eat more colorful veggies.
• I avoid simple sugars outside of workouts.
• I break workouts down into mini blocks in my mind.
• I remind myself of the quote, “I do today what you won’t so tomorrow I can do what you can’t.”

I am at the point in the season where everything is now about the final specific preparations for Ironman Wisconsin. These specific preparations involve chaining (or bricks). My workouts no longer live in isolation. Swimming occurs before cycling and cycling occurs before running. Running rarely occurs without some activity creating a level of fatigue similar to my upcoming race. I know if I cut corners now, I sabotage my training and eventually my race.

Is it hard? Yes. Do people make fun of me for my OCD approach to training? Yes. I persevere because in my mind I have no other choice. Success and finishing become habits in my racing and my business. Cutting corners leads to DNFs, poor performances and failed businesses.

I recently had an opportunity to participate in a long run with an Olympic Gold Medalist. On the run, she made sure that every turn was to an exact point on the course. She never cut one corner. She made doing the work a point of pride and a habit. In the process of embracing all of her corners, her streets became paved with Gold.