It takes four years of training to begin training for an Ironman.   Mark Allen, 6x Ironman World Champion

I saw this quote in a TriTown newsletter a few weeks ago & it’s been rolling around in my mind ever since.  The key word – “begin”…it takes 4 yrs of training to BEGIN training for an Ironman.  Doesn’t this concept just go against everything that our fast-paced world values?  Multitask all the time.  Take a pill for that.  Take the short cut.  If this solution doesn’t work quickly enough, try something else.  Achieve your goal in the minimum amount of time…no matter the cost.  But Mark Allen’s statement is all about the opposite.  It’s about slowing down, taking your time, allowing changes to integrate slowly, being consistent, preparing for a long-term goal, letting the results come to you rather than you chasing results.  In other words, it’s about taking the slow road to improvement.

I think all of us struggle with this concept that change & improvement take time.  When I tell my swim lesson clients that it takes 2-4 YEARS for the techniques they are learning to be controllable, repeatable & consistent in a 1000yd swim, they look at me like I’m crazy!  I get the same response when I tell my coached athletes that it takes 4-5 YEARS of working together before we can truly dial in a training program that fit them like a glove.  YEARS, people…we’re talking years…not months…not weeks…years.

Get a Bit More Zen

And really, what’s the hurry?  There is a Zen proverb which I particularly like.  It goes something like this:

Once you think you’ve arrived, you’ve already begun your descent. 

In other words…if you think you’ve “got it”, well, you’re fooling yourself.  In effect, there is no mastery…only the opportunity to improve.  And furthermore, your mission in life is to continually try to improve.

I LOVE this!  To me this concept has a calming effect.  No longer do I have to stress about trying to master something by X date.  No longer do I have to force the learning.  Now I now have my whole life to figure it out!  And you know what else?  Since I’m perpetually in the learning & improvement phase…I don’t have to be perfect!  As a “recovering perfectionist”, this has truly been my lifeboat.

When we give ourselves the gift of time, we can relax into the process of learning & actually enjoy it.  And I have to believe that increasing the enjoyment factor directly increases the learning factor.

Learn Like Kids

Take kiddos for example.  All they want to do is have fun.  They don’t care about how fast or slow they learn something.  They don’t care if it takes 2 days or 2 years.  They just want to enjoy the process of trying & celebrate their newfound skills sets.  (If you want a great read on this very topic, check out Antonio Gonzalez‘s blog post.)

So, my friends.  I encourage you to slow down, dial back your expectations, extend your timelines, relax into the process & enjoy the fact that you’ll be figuring it out for the rest of your life.  Take the slow road to improvement.  I promise you’ll experience the process in a whole new way!

Happy improving!

For more reading on this topic:

“Taking It Slow” by Coach Michelle

“How Slow Can You Go?” by Coach Michelle

“Swimming Slow to Swim Faster” by Coach Michelle

“Slowing Down to Go Faster” by Coach Michelle