Are you racing for others or yourself?
It's common for athletes to feel pressure to perform well for others, but genuine pride from loved ones comes from an athlete's attitude, daily habits, and dedication to training, rather than a single race result. This article explores how a continued application of good habits is more impactful on others than a single race result.
Recently, I had a conversation with an athlete who said that they really wanted to make their coach and family proud at their next race. They felt their race result was what these people focused on. I thought it necessary to remind them that, while one event can occasionally define an athlete, this rarely holds for the people who matter most—their closest supporters.
Winning a world championship or representing one’s country, while impressive, isn’t the sole measure of success. Those who genuinely care about you only want you to be happy. Their pride comes not from individual race results but from who you are and how you behave. Your attitude, daily habits, and the way you conduct yourself carry far more weight with them than any single achievement.
If you feel overwhelmed by the pressure of an upcoming event, it is helpful to acknowledge that this expectation is often self-imposed. If you've dedicated yourself wholeheartedly to training, embodying a high-performance mentality, you’ve already earned the pride of those who matter most. Race day becomes a mere opportunity to showcase how all your efforts can come together on that day: putting the icing on the cake! No one remembers a fantastic cake purely by the icing – sure, it can look impressive, but the taste matters more!
It’s crucial to understand that your racing performance doesn’t define you; your approach to training and daily life truly counts. This distinction can mean the difference between integrating your endurance goals into your life and pursuing your goals at all costs. The former is a much more sustainable approach, saving you both time and emotional strain, while the latter often brings significant pressure and stress during peak moments throughout the year.
Of course, having a race and a goal can serve as helpful motivation, but becoming too fixated on outcomes that are primarily out of your control can create numerous emotional challenges. Even if this is the biggest race of your season or your life, and you’ve put in substantial effort, remember that it’s still worthwhile—even if unforeseen circumstances keep you from starting. Your supporters will not see your training as wasted; they’ll recognise the positive impact of your dedication and how you’ve conducted yourself along the way.
How we handle training, maintain balance in our lives, and strive to keep those around us content while chasing our endurance goals provides a sense of achievement that goes beyond the race day itself. Remember that a race result is merely the icing on the cake. While icing can be appealing and sweet, it won’t compensate for a dry or incomplete cake, and it's challenging to replicate time and again.
Focus on creating a solid foundation as an endurance athlete, and consistently work on these aspects daily. In doing so, you'll find pride in your journey and earn the respect of those around you as you execute your training effectively.
Philip is the founder of Tri Training Harder LLP. He’s a British Triathlon Level 3 coach, and has been coaching for over a decade and is involved with mentoring and developing other coaches.
Philip has coached athletes to European and World AG wins, elite racing, many Kona qualifications, IRONMAN podiums and AG wins.
Alongside the conventional development through many CPD courses, he has also been fortunate enough to work alongside experts in the fields of Physiotherapy, Strength and Conditioning, Nutrition, Psychology, Biomechanics, Sports Medicine. Putting this knowledge into practice he has worked with thousands of athletes to various degrees, from training camps in Portugal and around Europe, clinics in the UK and online coaching.
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