Why Starting with ‘Why’ Means More Success Before Embarking on a Triathlon Training Plan
Starting with ‘Why.’ Goal setting for your Triathlon Training Plan
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING THINK ABOUT WHY
Today I am very excited to be presenting a guest post for you by an inspirational triathlete and female company owner, Melanie Mitchell from Poppy Sports. I hope you enjoy her post about choosing your why!
Melanie Mitchell Founder of Poppy Sports and Triathlete
Bio–Melanie Mitchell is the founder of PoppySports.com and PoppySportsTraining.com as well as mother, Sherpa, triathlete and juggler of time. She actively supports women entrepreneurs and aims to empower more girls into the sport of triathlon while rocking her own ‘why’ in her chosen race distance of Ironman 70.3.
What’s Your Why?
Have you ever listened to the TED talk Simon Sinek’s ‘Start with Why’? (To Sinek’s talk click HERE ). He explains how great leaders inspire action. It has become synonymous with great talks on motivation, drive and inspiration.
Sinek showcases what it means to motivate people, not by force or obligation, but by making sure you know your ‘why’ or your reason for doing something. That, he says, is the success factor of major thought leaders like Apple and Martin Luther King Junior
The Concept of ‘Why’
This concept can be applied in many aspects of life and business. Starting with the ‘what is your why’ question has been one of the fundamental starting points of our half Ironman training plan at Poppy Sports (click here to see a Poppy Sports Half Ironman training plan).
We mentor women athletes through a stretch goal. It might be a new distance, a new race goal and we (and I count myself in here!) have all benefitted from going through the process of gaining clarity and understanding why they have set a specific triathlon goal – the real why.
Newbies and seasoned athletes alike, the answers we see never cease to amaze.
How to Find Your Why
Know your ‘WHY’
Through carefully crafted questions in a self-assessment workbook, we ask each athlete to take the time to commit. We ask each person to consider what is their true motivation in life, career and sport and the answers are always revealing.
What might start out as a simple, ‘Well, I want to get fit again’, or, ‘I was tired of just running,’ can turn into, ‘I was overwhelmed by the early years of motherhood and I want to find out who I am again.’ And ‘I want to prove to someone that I can do this when they told me I couldn’t.’
We all know that triathlon training and racing is an endurance event and not a sprint (despite a race distance called just that). Keeping focused on a 16 week triathlon-training plan requires time management, internal motivation and commitment.
If you understand the real reason for your journey to the start line, the chances of reaching race day increase exponentially.
Your ‘Why’ Statement
After these carefully crafted questions, we finally ask each athlete to complete their ‘why’ statement
The reason I want ___________________ an Ironman 70.3 is ______________________so I can _________________and _______________________________
Getting Fancy
Then we start to get really fancy.
From there we create vision boards supporting the statement that are framed and mounted somewhere to be seen every day!
The response in our own lives and those we mentor has been remarkable! A simple process and a reminder on the wall, is an amazing motivator, reminder, and inspiration.
Here’s an example of my vision board – conjured up on a great free resource called Canva. It’s personal to me and every time doubts start, I take the time to sit down and contemplate the board.
My Journey To Success. Melanie from Poppy Sports
So we challenge you dear reader, to start with your own ‘why’. It doesn’t matter if you are a newbie into triathlon or a seasoned veteran, anyone can benefit from a little introspection before embarking on a journey, whether sport or otherwise.
We’d love to know them all! Share with us below what is your triathlon/running/cycling/ ‘why’.
Poppy Sports. Endurance Athletes Together.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed today’s post from Melanie at Poppy Sports.
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Fan-Freaking-Tastic! I’m thinking triathlon a little so this post is really timely
katie recently posted…The Value of Experiences and Regret
Yes! The “Why” in any goal is so important. The most important! It’s what will motivate and keep you trucking on even when you may want to give up!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Balsamic Roasted Red Pepper Basil Hummus
Very inspiring! Thank you for posting!
Margo recently posted…Brooklyn Fit Chick Vlog 108: YogaLean Giveaway, Love Yo’ Self Playlist & Tips of the Scale Podcast & More
I love this! SO true! It really does make a difference, and I think it makes it really ring true to you, so you are committed, and see why you are doing each step. Thanks so much for this, makes me feel happier about why I went out in the crappy weather today 🙂
Tina muir recently posted…Meatless Monday- Vegetable Pad Thai
Love this. One must always remember their WHY on any and all endeavors! 🙂
Rachel recently posted…Staying Motivated During Winter Weather
On days like today where it is freezing and icy outside I struggle with this- remembering my WHY is SO important!!
AJ @ NutriFitMama recently posted…Yogurt Perfection with Liberté Yogurt + Recipe and Visa Gift Card Giveaway
The “why” of any goal is always so important. Its hard, almost impossible, to go after a goal if you don’t know why you’re after it. Great post!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Shamrock Half Marathon Training Log – Week 13
Great post! Without a “why” I honestly don’t think I can get my butt out and train for races.
Carmy recently posted…Monday on the Run #16
Love this! Part of my why for triathlon (I’m a newbie!) is definitely because I love working out, especially swimming, and challenging myself, but some of it is also to overcome fears – both of failure and of falling off my bike.
Megan @ outlawontherun recently posted…5 Things I Love About Cooking
This is great! We had to view this video a few times during my grad school program (higher education administration)…never thought to use it in relation to my fitness goals…I’ll have to draft out my why statement!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Training Week 7/52 – 2015
How inspiring! Finding you why is so important to staying motivated. My why is to be healthy and to help inspire others to do the same.
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Slow Cooker Paleo Chili
Love this! I for sure need to find my why. I have no idea what it is. Thanks for giving me something to think about
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie-Meatless Monday
Without the why it’s hard to figure out the HOW. This is a fantstic post!
Janice @ Fitness Cheerleader recently posted…#MotivateMe Monday: Back in the Game
Love this! Focusing on my why is huge in my journey! My “why” is living a long, healthy life and beating diabetes (which runs in my family) before it begins!
Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…7 Ways to Stay Motivated
So true. If you don’t know “why” you are doing it, it’s so hard to actually stay motivated to do it. I know why I run, I’m still trying to figure out why I keep setting longer and longer distance goals for myself.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Tips for running when it’s below freezing
Remembering my why has stopped me from giving up many times.
I love this idea. My “why” seems too intricate for words, but I’ve got it deep down inside my heart for the times I need a reminder 😉
This is incredible. I need to start asking myself “Why” in every decision I’m contemplating. Such a simple, yet powerful tool!
Stephanie (@FitMomTraining) recently posted…Mayhem Monday: Admitting to my UnPinteresty Life
I am training for a sprint triathlon because someone said I wasn’t athletic and that I’m clumsy. These are two things that no has ever mistaken me for and I was flabbergasted. I began questioning my self-image. While this could be interpreted as abusive and detrimental, I choose to see it as motivating. No longer will I rest on the laurels of my former accomplishments. And, as I flipped him off, in my head, I said, “Thank you for helping remember who I am!”