September us upon us and it’s the start for football season. It’s also championship season in the world of Triathlon. The ITU Sprint Distance Worlds happened a little over a week ago and the grand final of the ITU World Championship Series a little more than a week away. In less than a month, we will have crowned the 2010 National Champion age group, elites and U23 athletes in Olympic, sprint and long distance triathlon here in the US. Then there is that little event that happens every October in Kona – the Ironman World Championship and that other event that happens in Maui – the XTERRA World Championship. I’m excited, how about you.
In an attempt to bring you a better product, I’m actively rounding up contributors to this column. I’m not going to limit to just triathletes or triathlete coaches either. There is much to be gained by looking at how other sports and even business can be applied to what we as triathletes do. In fact, in the field of Sports Psychology, a lot of our guidance comes from business since there has been so little research done in sport. It’s sort of like the current trend to compression socks. Most of the research on compression garments have been conducted on individuals with illness. We have extrapolated those results and applied them to sport in recent years.
This month’s guest columnist is Dana Nellen, owner of Coaching for Champions (http://www.dananellen.com/). Dana has been a professional dancer for 17 years so she knows what it is to be an elite athlete and what it takes for peak performance. She has 34 years experience using and teaching time proven techniques that lead to peak performance. She is also a certified professional life coach. The Nellen Method for Sports Performance addresses physical, mental and philosophical challenges that serious, committed athletes across all sports have challenges with – high School through professional. Her first submission entitled: Avoiding the DL discusses creating balance in your life to keep yourself in the game.
We’ve also got the “20 Questions” segment reloaded and we’ll be bringing you some great interviews going forward, starting with this week’s edition, Paula Finlay. This young girl is on fire, winning back to back ITU WCS races.
In a previous column, I wrote about Laurent Fignon, his battle with cancer and how his battles with Greg LeMond got me into the sport of cycling, which indirectly led me to take up triathlon. Laurent dies yesterday at the age of 50. Greg LeMond had some very gracious things to say on French TV upon his passing:
“It’s a really sad day. I see him as one of the great riders who was hampered by injuries. He had a very, very big talent, much more than anyone recognized. For me he was one of the greater champions that was not recognized. He was more recognized for his loss in the Tour de France than for his two victories.”
“We were teammates, competitors, but also friends. He was a great person; one of the few that I find was really true to himself. He didn’t have an ego. He really knew himself.”
“When he lost the Tour de France in 1989 it was one of the few victories where I felt we both won. The saddest thing for me is that for the rest of his career he said he won two Tours de France, when in reality we both could have won the race.”
“He was one of the few riders who I really admired for his honesty and his frankness. We talked about a lot of different things outside of cycling and I was fortunate to really get to know him when my career stopped. I believe he was also one of the generation that was cut short in the early nineties because he was not able to fulfil the rest of his career. But he was a great rider.”
I’ve heard LeMond say that when he was in the hospital after he had been shot in a hunting accident, Fignon was the only rival that sent him a card (that was back in the day when we used the mail because we didn’t have e-mail, the internet or a cell phone!)
God Speed Laurent.
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Avoiding the DL
By Dana Nellen, Coaching for Champions
Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals is on the DL and out for the season. This amazing young pitcher has to take a step back and rest. This brings me to an important discussion for serious, committed athletes: Balance.
The Oxford Dictionary describes balance:
- An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.
- Arranged in good proportions: she assembled a balanced team.
- Taking everything into account; fairly judged or presented: accurate and balanced information.
- Having different elements of food in the correct proportions: a healthy, balanced diet.
- State of mind: having no emotion lacking or too strong; stable: a balanced personality.
An elite athlete must maintain balance in order to be a peak performer and also to remain durable for the long run. Maintaining healthy balance allows you to avoid injuries, burnout and distractions that take you off your goals. These are no small concerns! So, it is crucial for you as an elite athlete to examine this important subject. Or you may have to learn about balance the hard way. When a guitar strings are strung too tightly, they break.
How can an athlete who is determined to reach stellar goals achieve balance?
I have listed some categories below so you can begin to examine where you can create greater balance. Write one thing in each category that you can begin to do now, actions that are positive, doable and concrete. If you come up with other areas where you can work on balance, write them in as well.
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AREA
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WHAT I WILL DO
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| Self care |
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| Sport specific training |
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| Learning and study |
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| Recuperation |
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| Down time (“me” time) |
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| Sleep |
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| Nutrition |
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| Meal times |
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| Relationships |
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| Social life |
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| Family |
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| Spiritual life |
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| Saving / spending habits |
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Now, go back and see where you might do a little more or a little less to create better overall balance for yourself. Don’t avoid any area. As a busy athlete, you may find at any given time that you need to spend more time on some categories than others. You can make up for this temporary imbalance when you have time again.
You can remain a peak performer for the long run when you create and maintain balance.
Dana Nellen is a sports performance coach, addressing physical, mental and philosophical issues all serious committed athletes have challenges with. To find out more about taking your sports performance to the next level, e-mail dana@dananellen.com or visit us at www.dananellen.com.
Reprinted by permission, Dana Nellen. Coaching for Champions: The Nellen Method for Sports Performance.. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Tweets of the Week
Emma_Garrard Been a while since I’ve had 2 ride w bear sprayhttp://yfrog.com/nfn4rwj
tollakson Goo balls from cheba hut may be my favorite recovery food, ok I could stand to add a little hmb to the recipe, but pretty close to perfect
FactoryRacing first medal for bratwurst, beer and lederhosn… bravo @manuelfumic http://twitpic.com/2k9wbn
linseycorbin Mmm. Tastes like chicken @ClifBar new CLIF Shot.http://twitpic.com/2kafxh
jarrodshoemaker bridge collapse in Puerto Vallarta…http://bit.ly/9LM2su
dghugo http://twitpic.com/2k9xom Back at that hardware store. Stuck at the camping section. Should it get me this excited? I need to play more…
lukemckenzie one good thing about the cold weather is there isn’t many people at the pool in the am. had my own lane for 2 weeks now. man its windy today
KristinMayer @PaulHuddle @rochfrey Free Hawaii training advice:http://www.active.com/triathlon/bvd-sweepstakes/ I love you guys!
KristinMayer The real reason to go to Kona in my previous post.
lisanorden Just checked in to my new home; a prison cell!! No kidding, only shut down -95. Spartan is an understatement. But perfect pre camp set up!
linseycorbin Not so happy about 50 deg, rain, arm warmers. I’ll tell you what I am happy about tho: taking my Scott Plasma 3 for its maiden voyage!
dghugo Woke with hunger pains! Rest day but for chiro, massage and 2 x ice-baths. Longest list of admin to catch up on – will be coffee fueled.
jarrodshoemaker planning on getting a new car when we get back to the US. Was hoping for a car sponsorship… but no takers yet
Mirindacarfrae Definitely in the hurt box… Right where I belong – umm thanks coach… Sort of?
desfick Two things made for an awesome afternoon, hanging out with the @gilbertgazelles and a rainstorm shutting down the 100 degree temps.
desfick Third thing and fourth things….a huge rainbow and now this chocolate shake.
PaulHuddle Took a severe beating this morning in Speedgolf. Team Kate Sessions (@robevansusc & Chris) trounced @bob_babbitt & I. I know. Big surprise.
lukemckenzie jacksons corner sure does make delicious banana bread!
GregLemond I will miss Laurent Fignon as a great person and competitor. A truly sad day for everyone whose lives he touched.http://ow.ly/2xvAP
bobkeroll RIP Laurent Fignon,a good friend and ferocious competitor, gone too soon but never to be forgotten…
lancearmstrong Just woke to the news that Laurent Fignon has passed on. He was a dear friend and a legendary cyclist. We will miss you, Laurent. RIP LF!!
20 Questions With ITU Triathlete Paula Findlay
Paula Finlay is one of the next generation of triathletes that are making their mark in the ITU World Championship Series this year. She is currently on fire, winning back to back WCS races in London and Kitzbuhel. As we head into the final event, in Budapest, she might be considered the favorite. She has even surprised herself with her victories, if the look on her face as she crossed the finish line. Right now she looks like Canada’s best hope for a medal in triathlon at the 2012 Olympics in London. She is also going to college, and plans to go to medical school when her triathlon career is over. You can find out more about Paula at Triathlon Canada http://triathloncanada.com/page.ch2?uid=PaulaFindlay
(This Week in Triathlon) How did you get your start in triathlon?
(Paula Findlay) I started as a competitive swimmer when I was 11, and I ran track throughout high school. When I was 16 I got a road bike for Christmas and tried my first triathlon. I’ve been hooked ever since!
(TWiT) What is it about triathlon that trumped just running or just swimming at age 15?
(PF) I started to hit a plateau with my swimming around this age. I was training 9 times a week and my times weren’t getting any faster. This was very frustrating for me so I was happy to discover this new sport to focus on. I could still train with my swim club, but I had new goals so the workouts were much more enjoyable. I’ve never really considered being a pure runner since swimming has always been such a big part of my life.
(TWiT) When did you know your were pretty good at this triathlon thing?
(PF) My first triathlon was a local sprint race, where I was the first woman and third overall. That year I qualified for the World Junior Championships (2006) where I finished 13th. It was a successful first year for me so I knew that I had some potential to do well if I stuck with it.
(TWiT) What is your favorite thing to eat that you shouldn’t eat?
(PF) Chocolate is definitely my favorite treat.
(TWiT) With the amount of training you do can’t you eat cases of chocolate with no ill effects?
(PF) Ha-ha, I suppose so, but I feel much better when I put healthy foods in my body. Nutrition plays a huge role in fueling for workouts, and is also very important with recovery, so I’m pretty careful about what I eat.
(TWiT) I know you are young and have a long ITU career ahead of you. However, do you see yourself doing Ironman down the road?
(PF) I would like to try a half ironman first. The training for ironman is significantly different than the training that we do for ITU racing. I’m not sure if I’m up for the 6 hour rides!
(TWiT) What is the longest you’ve been on a bike in one stretch?
(PF) My longest ride is 5 hours, which I did at a training camp this past winter in Arizona. This was very long for me and doesn’t happen very often!
(TWiT) What goals outside of triathlon have you set for yourself?
(PF) I want to get into medicine and become a doctor when I’m done racing.
(TWiT) As a doctor, what would be your specialty?
(PF) I’m not entirely sure yet, but I would like to get into the sports medicine field so that I can work with athletes.
(TWiT) When you are not swimming, biking and running, where will I find you?
(PF) At school, or at home studying! It’s not a very exciting life, especially when I’m in school.
(TWiT) With your recent rise to the elite of the sport, are you going to be able to continue your school work while getting ready for the Olympics?
(PF) My focus for the next few years is to qualify for London and I won’t let my school get in the way of this. However, it’s nice to have the balance of school and training during the off-season. For now, I’m planning on going to school for the fall semester when the training is bit more flexible. I’ll take the winter term off so that I can focus more on training and racing in the early-season competitions. In 2011 I may consider taking the whole year off school.
(TWiT) What measures do you take to preserve your sanity?
(PF) I love going to yoga. I try to incorporate it into my weekly training schedule, especially in the off-season. It really helps with stretching and strengthening, and it’s a great way to clear my mind.
(TWiT) What’s it like to go for a bike ride in Alberta in February?
(PF) I’ve never gone for a ride outside in February, its way too cold and icy! Alberta definitely doesn’t have the ideal climate for training. I’m on the trainer all winter long.
(TWiT) What about running outside in Alberta winters?
(PF) Running is much more manageable if you dress properly and cover yourself from head to toe. We do most of our quality run sessions on the indoor track or on the treadmill, but long runs in the snow can be pretty fun!
(TWiT) Do you have any suggestions when traveling by air with a bike?
(PF) I’ve learned not to worry about the bike fees. I used to get really stressed about paying huge excess fees for different airlines, but I’ve realized that it’s completely out of my control, so I just have to pay it and forget it.
(TWiT) Do you ever get tired of explaining exactly what it is you do for a living?
(PF) I actually haven’t been asked this question very often- I usually just say that I’m a student-athlete.
(TWiT) When they make a movie of your life, who should play you?
(PF) Hmm, I’m really not sure! Maybe someone with red hair?
(TWiT) What will I find you up to 10 years from now?
(PF) Either still racing, or I’ll be finishing med school and starting work.
(TWiT) What would your friends say is your most annoying habit?
(PF) Ha-ha, I can be pretty stubborn sometimes. I like getting my way!
(TWiT) It’s 2020. You decide to do Ironman. At the World Championships, they have this thing on the Thursday before the big race, the underpant’s run. Boxers or briefs?
(PF) Um, briefs I guess? Might be more comfortable.
