Becoming a better athlete (& human) needs work and direction. This is easier said than done while we face adversity and knowledge gaps. This series introduces my coaching framework: understand the basics, identify what is limiting you and build a plan around your life. The goal is to help you to reach your full potential no matter where you are in your athletic development.
Why first principle thinking?
Breaking down problems to the smallest known core truth will help you to build up knowledge and apply this to your very personal situation.
Here is an example: "I want to run a faster 5k". Good! Let's break this down. What is needed to move your body faster from A to B? You need to put one foot in front of the other. Duh! Start by looking at how you run, your training history and the demands of your goal. Technique is one part of that picture. Gait analysis may help answer a specific question, but changing technique is not a guarantee against injury, and you don't need a perfect running style before you can train. If pain is limiting you, get that assessed by a qualified professional. Then look at your other limiting factors. Do you need more aerobic fitness, strength or consistency? What kind of work (training, nutrition, mental skills, time management etc.) will help you address them? And then we build your program from there.
This approach might feel overwhelming at first but it gives you a framework for long-term progress. As we go along you will get the hang of it and it will make a lot of sense. Let's take a look at our topics:
Reach Your Full Potential Series:
There is a lot of ground to cover and the personal rate of learning will fluctuate. To make it easier I will try to paint a vivid picture by using examples along the way. As my background is in cycling and triathlon these examples will often be from those sports but the cool thing about first principle thinking: you will understand how you can relate this to your sport & situation.
To reach our full potential as an athlete and human we need to work hard and learn from our mistakes. While trying to manage a social life, work and family, this can be a lot. So show yourself some compassion along the way and keep up the grind.
Flo
Want help applying this to your own training? Explore Kona Endurance coaching or email info@konaendurance.com to talk about your goals.
