Looking for success?

Thursday, January 31, 2013 · Mike Davis

Tomorrow we finally finish out the month of January! This morning I went out to enjoy what I thought would be mild temperatures and ended up slipping and sliding for 6 miles! Oh my goodness, both the sidewalks and roads were some of the worst I have ever experienced and I have been out running after a snow storm. The temperatures were comfortable, with little wind so I was pretty surprised to nearly fall going down my driveway. I know that I might have been wiser to turn around and go back inside, but as I have expressed numerous times, the toughest part of a run or working out is just getting out there; so once I was out there turning around is not an option I wanted to take. I will say that the conditions slowed me down quite a bit, but after pushing myself yesterday going slow this morning was okay. One of the prevailing comments I hear from almost all of my clients early on is: “I love having a training plan that takes the thinking out of my workouts.” The idea that they have a plan and a schedule that takes thinking out also gets them on the road or in the gym. When you just run or go to the gym without a specific plan, you often lack an important driving force. When you have something that says today I am supposed to do this type of workout, you don’t have to think, and you just go. I am the same way, but my plan is often in my head and so I have to rely solely on my discipline and such goals as my 15 minutes in 2013. I understand the importance of a training plan both for a particular event and for no particular event. Back in 2009 I was in Germany for work and I hooked up with a trainer to help me train for the Frankfurt Marathon. He was tremendously helpful in giving me direction and keeping me a plan. After the marathon the same coach gave me a training plan that helped me recover and kept me with a consistent structured workout. Yes I probably would have worked out on my own, but I would not have been as consistent or as efficient. The other piece of having a training plan made for you is having a clear direction for each run or gym workout. I was at a fitness center a few weeks ago listening to one of their trainers talk to an older couple and I couldn’t believe what I heard! He was going over a training plan that I am sure was somewhat generic but he also had them on a 6 day a week training plan! Okay, this couple was in their late 50s or possibly early 60s and apparently had never worked out. What’s the chance they would stick to a workout plan that may have been more suited for me? I would be willing to bet they committed to a year’s membership with no chance of sticking with that training plan. Really, six days a week for first timers! Having someone actually ask you specific questions consider your schedule and design a training plan for you, gives you a greater chance for success. Also that training plan lets you move without having to focus on anything but your form and breathing. Beware of the internet plans or the gym trainers that look at you as a number. Yes I push training plans a lot, but the success that most people are looking for won’t come from some cookie cutter plan or without a plan at all. I am more confident than ever that if I get enough detail about a person, I can provide them with the perfect plan for them!