Staying On Top Of His Running Game
Being a professional athlete requires a lot of devotion. If keeping your motivation levels up seems to be an issue, we have some tips that can help.
Andrew Wheating photo via oregonlive.com
If you’re serious about being a professional runner, there are many aspects that you need to cover. Training for events requires you to keep finding new ways to improve your performance consistently. This is by no means an easy task.
In order to stay at the top of your game, you need to tailor your lifestyle to running. You also need to develop the right mindset. Without these things, you’re hurting your chances of becoming a successful athlete.
More often than not, your ability to keep training is more mental than physical. In these moments, finding motivation can be rather tough. Keep in mind that this happens to everyone and there are ways to overcome this. To prove our point, let’s take a look at the example of Andrew Wheating.
Case Study: Andrew Wheating’s Schedule
Andrew Wheating is a middle-distance runner and a two-time Olympian. He’s retired now and, in his own words, runs ‘under his own flag’. After a lot of experience with training for many different events, he has developed the skillset that every professional athlete needs.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy for him. There were times when he couldn’t bring himself to go to practice, but had to anyway. This happens to every athlete, and it can make you develop resentment towards running.
He says that having his own schedule has helped a lot, since he now has more freedom to plan his training. He also emphasises the importance of the right recovery method, which can make a world of difference.
Aside from running, Andrew now has more time to devote to his hobbies and looking for a new career path. He has gained a lot of success as a professional athlete and now wants to explore other options.
The kind of success that he has achieved takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. If you need some tips that will bring a lot of positive changes to your running, here are some simple things that can be very effective:
1. Find the Right Time of Day
If you’re able to create your own training schedule, Andrew suggests choosing the time that works best for you. Although this may seem like a small thing, it can actually increase your performance by a lot.
The reason for this is pretty simple. Some days you won’t feel like running in the morning. Your body feels tired and you motivation levels drop. If you force yourself to run in this condition, you might start hating your training and finding excuses against it.
Instead of this, pick the time when you feel like your body is ready. It might be after a good morning routine or doing something that boosts your motivation. This way, you enjoy the training and you’re more likely to perform better.
2. Have a Good Recovery Method
This advice is useful for all but especially so for athletes who don’t create their own schedule. Even if you need to train when you don’t feel like it, there are ways to make sure your body and mind are ready.
After your training, make sure to replenish the levels of water and energy that you lost. Andrew’s rehydration choice is SOS, which he’s been using for quite some time. If you rehydrate your body properly, your mind will be clearer and you’ll have more energy to keep training.
Another useful thing is taking a nap. This is one of the best ways to let your body relax after an exhausting training session. When your energy levels are back to normal, you’ll feel a lot more ready for your next training.
The Final Word
So no matter if you’re training by yourself or with other people, there are ways to keep your motivation levels high enough to keep training. These simple tips can have an impressive effect on your body and mind, so make sure to incorporate them in your routine.
To help athletes maintain high energy levels and keep improving their performance, we’ve developed SOS. Our drink is a choice of many successful athletes, so if you want to check it out, be sure to visit our shop.
