"...the good is always an enemy of the best because the good is so good; it has the feel of good, but ultimately it is less useful because it is not the best."
What's good? What's best? Which do you prefer?
As we train we hope - and expect - that we're going to improve. That we're getting better, so that compared to when we started we're actually becoming pretty good relative to our start point...whether in a race or just in training. Good feels damn good. And that alone is fantastic feedback, and motivation to keep on training.
But how good is good? Is your good, good enough? What comes after good?
There's a million clichés about going beyond your limits to another level...across that invisible line we think is there...that we believe is going to take a huge effort to leap across. Is this what you understand because you see it in films...read it in books...or because that's just what you think? And is the grass really greener once you do lift to a new level?
How about if moving up a new level was simply a matter of doing what's best for you, rather than what's good for you? Would you be prepared to take the step to doing what's best for you, to strive to fulfil your absolute ability, and take comfort that you gave it everything you could?
But each action has a consequence - each person has a different threshold - and doing what's best for you involves sacrifices. But take comfort, also, that this is not an all-or-nothing approach...there's degrees you can take this to, and each person has their own constraints on what they can feasibly do.
"The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. That just leaves us."
So what's involved? It's simply a change in attitude in everything you do that contributes to your ultimate performance...doing what's best for you within your range of control. It's as simple as that. Set your sights high and raise your aim to do what you need to in order to reach that level.
Think of all the things - physical, mental, equipment, nutrition, etc - that make up a performance, from planning to execution, and consider what aspects of that are just good...and what aspects of that could be best for you. Each 1% adds up to a huge gain. And that satisfaction and feedback will be priceless.
"Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.”
What's good? What's best? Which do you prefer?
As we train we hope - and expect - that we're going to improve. That we're getting better, so that compared to when we started we're actually becoming pretty good relative to our start point...whether in a race or just in training. Good feels damn good. And that alone is fantastic feedback, and motivation to keep on training.
But how good is good? Is your good, good enough? What comes after good?
There's a million clichés about going beyond your limits to another level...across that invisible line we think is there...that we believe is going to take a huge effort to leap across. Is this what you understand because you see it in films...read it in books...or because that's just what you think? And is the grass really greener once you do lift to a new level?
How about if moving up a new level was simply a matter of doing what's best for you, rather than what's good for you? Would you be prepared to take the step to doing what's best for you, to strive to fulfil your absolute ability, and take comfort that you gave it everything you could?
But each action has a consequence - each person has a different threshold - and doing what's best for you involves sacrifices. But take comfort, also, that this is not an all-or-nothing approach...there's degrees you can take this to, and each person has their own constraints on what they can feasibly do.
"The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. That just leaves us."
So what's involved? It's simply a change in attitude in everything you do that contributes to your ultimate performance...doing what's best for you within your range of control. It's as simple as that. Set your sights high and raise your aim to do what you need to in order to reach that level.
Think of all the things - physical, mental, equipment, nutrition, etc - that make up a performance, from planning to execution, and consider what aspects of that are just good...and what aspects of that could be best for you. Each 1% adds up to a huge gain. And that satisfaction and feedback will be priceless.
"Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.”
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