You never regret the session you do, just the ones you don’t do
Mantras – what do they really mean and how can they help?
Many people have mantras, either for how they live their lives, or relating to how they turn up and train. In this small series, Coach Denise looks at the mantras which have meaning to her personally, and shares how they help her with both life and training.
You never regret the session you do, just the ones you don’t do
This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain, but the root actually comes from the American author H Jackson Brown who himself remembers his mother saying: We regret the things we don’t do more than the things we do.
It is one I use a lot with my athletes. There are so many reasons not to do a session, it’s cold, it’s wet, it’s dark, I’m tired etc, that there needs to be a way to counter this. Winter in particular is a really tough time for training. Getting outside for a run or ride, getting into the gym or the pool, all seems so hard, especially at this time of the year.
Sometimes the hardest part is getting the first step done. Getting out of the house for the run or going to the pool is just so difficult. If we remember that it is the sessions we miss that we regret, this can help.
Developing strategies to try to get sessions done more regularly can really help. If you plan to do early morning sessions, then have your run or bike kit ready to get on as soon as you wake up. Have your swim kit all ready to go by the door so you just get up and grab it as you leave. If you need to eat before your swim, or right after your session, have a pre-prepared breakfast in your bag or ready to grab from the fridge. Overnight oats or a glass of milk and a banana are great options for a quick blast of nutrition with no morning prep required.
If you are lucky enough to have showers at the office, a lunchtime run can really help to rest the brain and get the workout done at the same time. While it can be hard to make that happen, my experience is that once you start to do lunchtime runs, and your colleagues and clients see it happening regularly, then it becomes normal and others accommodate it. They may even choose to join you. After all, your in-office performance will benefit from the short break and your chance to be outside in some precious winter daylight.
If post-work sessions are preferable, then planning a run, or gym session, right from the office can help to get it done before you head for home. Once in the house, the sofa has a tendency to grab you, there is dinner to prepare and kids activities to get involved with.
Planning to meet a friend, or a group, for a run can add that extra level of accountability. Regular Parkrun meetings with friends can be a great way to get in a run and also have a post run social catch up, combating the desire to hibernate over winter. If you are struggling to get a longer run in, then start with the first mile. After that, if you are still finding it hard, you can turn and come home and have at least done two miles. Most of the time though, once you are out, the desire to run will come back, and you’ll likely complete the full session.
Preparing for winter weather can make a big difference too. Merino wool layers are a big hit with me, while they are pricey they are also long lasting, making them good value for money in the long term. Having thin gloves, hats and buffs to wear as you set off which can then be stashed into pockets or the top of leggings, can make life more pleasant. Also, a good quality waterproof for running or on the bike can keep you nice and dry, and so warmer.
For real accountability, a coach can be invaluable. Knowing that someone is setting the plan and then seeing how you are doing on it, can really help with motivation. It’s like having someone watch over your shoulder and challenge your decision making – could you really not fit that session in? Was it really that dark / cold / wet? Was there a genuine reason not to complete the session or was it an excuse? Even if you could not complete the whole session, could you not have done half, or at least started it to see how you really felt.
Don’t regret the sessions you don’t do, just get it done.
Denise has been coaching triathletes since 2019 as a coach at her local triathlon club in West Lothian. Between 2019 and 2022, Denise was the Head coach in the club, working with a team of coaches to support and develop triathletes with a wide range of capabilities, completing her BTF Triathlon Level 2 coaching qualification in 2021.
Denise joined Tri Training Harder as a coach in 2021, building on the qualifications through the experience and knowledge passed on by the coaching team.
In 2019 Denise set up and continues to run her own Jog Scotland running group, a mixed ability group of runners who meet weekly. This delivers on her passion for helping people to do much more than they think they can.
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