Looking at it slightly differently, most of my routes in Leeds are pretty beautiful at the point of year.
I’ve been back at it properly for 3 weeks now, since my rest period after the European Championships. It is quite a struggle to get motivated again, when you’re fitness is down and the next race is months away.
When it’s cold and raining outside and all you want to do is stay in, put a comfy hoodie on and watch a good movie. But you’d achieve little doing that. After all you know your rivals are training hard.
For me, I find comfort and support in the small things. Knowing there’s a warm bed waiting for me to nap in after training. Looking forward to having a glass of wine at the weekend if training’s gone well, and knowing there’s no pressure to perform, yet. It’s all about getting out the front door.
When you make such big steps forward like I have this year, I guess you can do two things at this time of the year. Be happy with what you achieved last season and mellow on, or build on those successes.
However, 12th in Europe just isn’t enough. That’s what makes me work harder than ever before. I’m fitter than I ever have been at this point in the winter.
I’m starting from a much higher platform, so you have to take advantage of this situation. When you run a PB, reward your self, celebrate, then get back at it. You’re then, already, one step ahead.
Why not do the exact same as I did this time last year, it worked out pretty well, you wouldn’t want to fix something that isn’t broken?
Well I’m not. The changes that have been made in comparison to last year’s changes are tiny. I call it adapting. Minute changes are what is needed for me now, quality of my 20+ kilometre walks, getting stronger than before and maintaining the quality for as many weeks through winter as possible.
When I crossed the finishing line in Zurich, my mind went straight to the Beijing World Athletics Champs next summer. What possibly could I do there, after the season I have had?! If I were you I’d watch this space.
Thanks for reading, now is the time to take advantage of all your positives.
#TomWalksFast
I’ve been back at it properly for 3 weeks now, since my rest period after the European Championships. It is quite a struggle to get motivated again, when you’re fitness is down and the next race is months away.
When it’s cold and raining outside and all you want to do is stay in, put a comfy hoodie on and watch a good movie. But you’d achieve little doing that. After all you know your rivals are training hard.
For me, I find comfort and support in the small things. Knowing there’s a warm bed waiting for me to nap in after training. Looking forward to having a glass of wine at the weekend if training’s gone well, and knowing there’s no pressure to perform, yet. It’s all about getting out the front door.
When you make such big steps forward like I have this year, I guess you can do two things at this time of the year. Be happy with what you achieved last season and mellow on, or build on those successes.
However, 12th in Europe just isn’t enough. That’s what makes me work harder than ever before. I’m fitter than I ever have been at this point in the winter.
I’m starting from a much higher platform, so you have to take advantage of this situation. When you run a PB, reward your self, celebrate, then get back at it. You’re then, already, one step ahead.
Why not do the exact same as I did this time last year, it worked out pretty well, you wouldn’t want to fix something that isn’t broken?
Well I’m not. The changes that have been made in comparison to last year’s changes are tiny. I call it adapting. Minute changes are what is needed for me now, quality of my 20+ kilometre walks, getting stronger than before and maintaining the quality for as many weeks through winter as possible.
When I crossed the finishing line in Zurich, my mind went straight to the Beijing World Athletics Champs next summer. What possibly could I do there, after the season I have had?! If I were you I’d watch this space.
Thanks for reading, now is the time to take advantage of all your positives.
#TomWalksFast
