Endurance Minded

There's No Silver Bullet

Joe Hamilton is part of the TEC coaching team. He's also a long time athlete, who's made the transition to coaching athletes over the last several years. It's this transition that gives him a unique perspective and a window into how and why athletes struggle to achieve their goals. A few of the conversation topics are as follows:

 

- Focusing on the longterm for sustainable growth. 

 

- Taking a holistic view of training, fitness, and goal setting. It's not about just getting faster or stronger. Balance is key! 

 

- There's no silver bullet when it comes to what works for individual athletes.

 

- Leaning into a proactive mindset. This will allow you to weather any storm. 

 

Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for more details and to learn more about Joe. 

Minisode: Training to be Adaptable

Based on questions from listeners, as well as Taylor's own conversations with coaches and athletes, this minisode outlines why and how infusing the skills of flexibility, adaptability, and resiliency purposefully into training is important for longterm success. Here's what we covered. 

 

- Adaptability and training consistency doesn't have to be in opposition to one another. 

- We can still use "Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail" and arrive at these skills successfully. 

- Why adapting "on the fly" is critical to avoid negative mental traps and pitfalls. 

- Advice on how to integrate these skills into your training. 

 

Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for more information, or to speak with a coach about how to develop these and other skills. 

Looking at Things with Fresh Eyes

With new experiences come new perspectives. Taylor revisits an episode from the Spring of 2020 to look at how that conversation now takes on new meaning given the current circumstances. The original chat with Lydia Tanner looks different given how athletes see the world now. Some highlights are as follows:

- Applying intrinsic and extrinsic motivators in a world with less racing. 

- Why finding sustainability should take precedence over moving forward at all costs. 

- What maturity in sport means now. 

- Using fitness as a tool for enjoyment and growth, and not winning races. 

- Quality over quantity. 

Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for resources and tools to help you be the best athlete you can be. 

Defining Success in Uncertain Times: Being Proactive vs. Reactive

What does it mean to be "Proactive" or "Reactive"? We've typically used these terms to define how we view the time before, during, and after races/events, but how does it apply when races are being canceled? 

- How to define success outside of racing. 

- How to utilize this time to be productive and set yourself up for long-term success. 

- What does "Reactive" behavior look like for athletes? 

- What does "Proactive" behavior look like for athletes? 

- How to make the most out of a clean slate. 

For more information on training, mental skills, or to schedule a free call with one of our expert coaches visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com. 

Minisode: Defining Your Athletic Identity

This episode looks at how to define your athletic identity in the face of an ever-evolving endurance sports community. Canceled races and group restrictions mean that access to external validation isn't as easy to come by as it once was. Topics covered include:

- Who am I if I'm not a "racer"?

- What is my athletic identity?

- How to define my athletic identity in a way that's not purely external. 

- Defining your "Athlete Value Proposition".

Visit Thomas Endurance Coaching for more information on how to get the most out of yourself, or to schedule your free 30-minute coach consultation call. 

A Fresh Look at the Past

In episode 20 of Endurance Minded, we revisit a conversation we had with Selene Yeager in the Fall of 2019. This was long before we were consumed with a global pandemic, race cancelations, quarantine, and social distancing. In listening to this episode with a different perspective there's so much that's applicable to how athletes navigate the current crisis. Perspective is everything, and now more than ever it's important to "move through the tunnel" on our way to brighter days. If you didn't catch this episode the first time around now's your chance, or listen to it again and ask yourself how your reaction has changed given your current perspective and circumstances. 

You can find her latest publications at https://seleneyeager.contently.com/.

To learn more about the topics we discuss on Endurance Minded visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com to speak with a coach, read the blog, or review any of the services designed to help you become a better athlete. 

Dealing with Sustained Efforts

Carrie Jackson Cheadle is a nationally acclaimed mental skills coach, consultant, author, podcast co-host, and so much more. We discuss the parallels between the injured athlete's experience and the current pandemic, how mental and physical fitness are closely linked, the components of hardiness, how to build a toolkit for resiliency, and how stepping back might be the best thing to do to move forward.

- To receive 30% off of Carrie's book Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries visit https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/rebound-9781472961433/

- Reach out to Carrie directly at www.carriecheadle.com and mention Endurance Minded to receive 15% off of your first mental training package. 

- For more resources on her work with injured athletes visit www.injuredathletesclub.com. Also, check out her podcast The Injured Athletes Club. 

- Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for more information on the topics discussed on Endurance Minded, or to speak with a coach.  

Bringing the Joy Back to Training

Alana Levin brings her passion and experience as a TEC coach and lifelong athlete to this conversation. Alana and Taylor cover a wide range of topics including the current COVID19 outbreak, what might happen to endurance events in the future, how joy is the most critical aspect of training, and how races just might be a crutch that when removed allow athletes to finally find their true athletic identity. 

Alana's insight and enthusiasm make for a great conversation that's filled with takeaways for athletes and non-athletes alike. 

For more information on everything discussed in this episode visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com

 

Minisode: Outcome, Performance, and Process Goals

Taylor takes a look at what sports psychologists define as the three types of goals. Outcome, performance, and process-based goals are all part of an athlete's journey. Now more than ever it's important to ensure that the process builds towards the desired performance and outcome. 

For more information visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com

 

Finding Motivation: Results and Process

Ben Rosario is the head coach for the Hoka One One NAZ Elite professional running team, who recently sent six athletes to the US Marathon Trials in Atlanta, GA. Aliphine Tuliamuk finished first overall in the women's race and secured an Olympic spot for the NAZ Elite team. 

Ben and Taylor discuss the Olympic Trails, how his team is dealing with unforeseen disruptions such as the Olympics being postponed, race cancelations, group training restrictions, and much more. While Olympic level athletes are the best in the world, they're still dealing with the same things many age-group athletes deal with. Ben is one of the best coaches in the world, and his insight and perspective help to shed light on what it means to be an athlete during these dynamic times.

 

For free workouts, tools, and insight delivered weekly to your inbox sign up for the TEC "Quarantine Toolkit" HERE. 

Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for more resources, or to schedule a free call with one of our coaches.