“Some time ago, I noticed something intriguing in our athlete onboarding process.  We pose a simple question:  ‘How many hours per week do you have available to train for this event?’  Most athletes fall within a reasonable range of 7 to 15 hours weekly.  But occasionally, we encounter outliers who have difficulties setting boundaries for success.

These outliers typically fall into 2 categories:

1. Time-Constrained Outliers – Those with severe time-constrains (<4 hours per week).
2. Time-Rich Outliers – Those with an abundance of time (25+ hours per week).

Interestingly, regardless of their initial response, the outcomes of these seemingly divergence groups tend to be similar — they both struggle to maintain consistency once training begins.  I believe these outliers often face challenges in setting boundaries.

Time-Constrained Outliers

These athletes resemble jugglers trying to manage too many balls at once.  They attempt to do it all despite knowing they’re nearing their personal limits in time & energy.  While successful in other aspects of life, they register for demanding challenges like Ironman or ultra-distance races, often driven by the prestige associated with such feats.  Once the event is completed, they rarely return, having checked the box on their list of accomplishments.

Time-Rich Outliers

Conversely, these athletes struggle with a lack of structure & boundaries.  With ample freedom, they find it challenging to impose discipline on their training regimen.  Such athletes often benefit from treating training like a job, adhering to a set schedule & possibly joining group sessions to foster accountability.

In contrast, the most successful athletes I’ve worked with excel in setting clear boundaries.  They allocate specific time for training (typically in the mornings) while balancing other commitments.  Despite sport not being their full-time occupation, they approach it with utmost dedication.  During their training sessions, they eliminate distractions & maintain a singular focus on preparing both body & mind for the upcoming event.

Ultimately, boundaries – when effectively utilized – can be a hidden advantage in our athletic pursuits.

Train smart & have a great week!”

If you’d like to connect with Antonio, feel free to email him, call 208.297.7943 or visit the TriTown Bicycles website.

Here’s a list of past articles written by Antonio Gonzalez:

• “Just Doing More Just Isn’t Enough”
• “The Beauty of Long-Term Thinking”
• “Train Like a Kid”
• “On Doing Hard Things”
• “The Pros & Cons of Pacing”
• “Suffering & Sacrifice”
• “My Triathlete Journey – Finding My Own Way”