How training is like investing
I am in a search for a good analogy to make the explanation easy for highlighting the benefits of training, particularly for the less scientific based training methods. Very recently, I made a visit to a financial planner who guided me to open my very first retirement account( You might think that I am too young or the other way, which depends on how you like to view me)After a few months enthusiastically checking my accounts and learning the basics of financial planning, I was struck by the parallels between investing and training and how the basic principles were remarkably similar. This helped me better understand my own investment strategies and since the principles of investing are widely known, I think comparing the two will help you better comprehend the big picture of your training .
Don?t pay attention to daily fluctuations
Assessing progress on a day to day basis is a strict no-no whether it is related to training or investing. My biggest mistake early in the investment process was checking my account daily, hoping to see consistent gains. To my dismay, my investment remained the same for the first few days before it began to fall unexpectedly. The motivation to invest, which had been quite high when I started, waned quickly and I started to think maybe I had made a mistake.
I see this same fluctuation in emotion happen when runners are constantly trying to measure and compare their fitness day-to-day. Like investing, training doesn?t always occur on a linear curve. Some days you make big jumps in progress, most days the fitness gains are minuscule, and a few days actually feel like they go backward. This begets a roller coaster training experience, which is hard to sustain long-term.
Your takeaway ? Don?t be tempted to fixate on daily, or even weekly, changes in your fitness. Instead, look at the level of advancement you make in every month or in every quarter or even yearly scale. It?s not easy to see the big picture, but it will ultimately lead to more consistent progression.
Growth takes time
I always enjoy watching the Suze Orman show when I get time to catch it on the television. When I see her analyze the financial condition of viewers who call in during the show, I am truly amazed at how much money the callers have saved. It seems impossible that I could ever save that much money, let alone earn it ? these people must be making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. In reality, they?re average middle income Americans, but I?m forgetting to factor in the slow, step-by-step process that brought them towards that number.
This very same situation happens to runners, specifically when they see the elite athletes training or are preparing for their first marathon. Runners see the impressive mileage totals of elites or the best runners in their running group and think, ?wow, I can never get there.? The same thinking occurs when runners train for their first marathon. Getting from week 1 to 26.2 miles on race day looks very hard for many runners , so they start to lose their confidence or try to do too much in a short time.
Your takeaway ? Your goals and the ability to train at a high level take time to achieve. Just like you wouldn?t expect your modest savings contribution to instantly turn into a million dollars, you have to be patient with your training. Trying so much in one training segment or allowing the fear of a difficult goal to takeover you is a sure way for disaster. Always remember that achieving fitness goal takes time and if you try to rush through the process , you will never reach it.
To educate yourself regarding running and nutrition it is recommended to always research before you buy which is why I always look online prior to looking at every unique system as well as tips. Research is actually incredibly essential and if you don?t research before you buy you?re likely to be looking for a world of damage or even worse yet you may throw away a small fortune. You must never leap towards the newest plan, but alternatively you ought to go with what?s been tested to get results. Some good websites can get you started out such as Runner?s nutritionist
. In the event that you actually come across some thing that definitely works will return to you in dividends. A person may feel better, have better rest and you will be able to show off for your friends on how many pounds you?ve shed.
How compounding profits are like a friend
The remarkable growth of investment portfolios is largely attributed to compounding interest. Like the principles of compounding interest which is well known among common people, the same concept applies for the training regimen also where the progress will happen gradually.
Each successful training segment builds upon itself. You attend training to reach a new level of fitness and once you reach that goal, you will start to create new higher targets and you will work harder for that. This is very important to remember if you initially didn?t perform well in the goal race. Most runners think that their efforts were wasted when they fail to meet their own expectations in the initial process. The good news is that if you trained correctly, you elevated your ability to handle training and you can build off that segment, even if the end result wasn?t a PR.
Your takeaway ? Never forget that a training segment won?t go wasted ever. Putting your effort on the training every month is much like depositing money in the bank. It may look like the training didn?t helped you when a race doesn?t go well. However, the fitness will always stays with you that will allow you to build and even bigger base of training for the next race.
Diversify ? one type of training will only get you so far
If you ask any investment specialist , they will tell that diversification is the foundation for success. Putting all your money in one market or investment vehicle is a surefire way to come up short of your investment goals.
Consider that prior to selecting the correct diets for runners organization you should invariably perform investigation prior to choosing the best one.
The same principle will also applies to running. Focusing only on the long run during marathon training or concentrating mainly on speed work when you?re training for the 5k is a surefire way to fail. Likewise, always training for the same race distance is an easy way to ensure that your progress stagnates. Like diversification in investing, it seems so obvious, yet it?s one of the most common reasons runners struggle.
Your takeaway ? approach your training like your retirement account. Diversify your workouts and vary up the types of races you train for each year. Doing so will make you an well-rounded runner and help you achieve your goals.
None of the above should be considered as an investment advice. However, you should consider it great training advice and apply the principles to your running. Do you have questions related to running or have your own investment parallels? Let?s hear them in the comments section.
To learn more about fitness training through running check out weight loss for running.
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