If it doesn't challenge you,
it doesn't change you.
A couple of months ago, I mentioned the book Chasing Excellence. It's a book that really spoke to me because of the no bullshit approach. As a quick reminder, the book is about how crossfit champions become crossfit champions. I do not like self help books, but I loved this book.
I love inspirational quotes.
I love powerful songs.
But, quotes and songs don't cross the finish line.
To accomplish your goals, we always say, "It's the little things".Those little things are simple, but they are not easy to do.
I was one of those athletes who would always say, "Get ready for BIG things from me this year". "This year is going to be HUGE".
I used to think improvements came in leaps and bounds.
This is my 12th year of triathlon. I took some time to look back over my career. I came to this sport with NO athletic background. I didn't know how to swim, and I didn't even own a bike.
My entire triathlon story is about little steps. I've moved from the back of the pack to the middle to the front to the podium to making Team USA.
Yet, there is not one single race that I can point to and say "THAT was it. THAT was my breakthrough race". Every year and every race, there were things that I did that built upon my previous years of racing.
If you want to qualify for a World Championship or podium at a World Championship, it will not happen overnight. It won't even happen in a year. It can take years to accomplish your goals.
We all need BIG goals. More importantly, we need those smaller intermediate goals. Without the smaller goals, we have no plan to reach the big ones. It's sexy to talk about qualifying for Kona. No one wants to know about the boring, little things an athlete has to do daily to make that dream come true.
Somewhere along the line, reality set in with me. I no longer talk in BIG terms.
Nowadays, I think, "I would like to do X". I know that in order to accomplish X, I need to go through T-U-V and W.
I (now) know how much work it takes to get to those really BIG goals.
This year, I am taking the opportunity to work on more of the little stuff.
Because the little stuff is everything.
#chasingexcellence
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On an unrelated note: If any readers want to follow me on Strava, please let me know in the comments. (No one can see your comment unless I approve it). I recently received a request from a guy in Italy. I deleted his request because I don't normally accept requests from people I don't know. He sent me a message saying, "I've been reading your blog for a few years".
OH. Ok. Then.