What are you training for?
It’s a fairly simple question which most people would answer in general terms:
- To lose weight
- To get my joints to stop hurting
- To build some muscle
- To have the energy to play with my kids/grandkids
- To lead a long, healthy life
Those examples are certainly worthy goals and do answer the question.
But I’ve found in my 13+ years of experience running TNT and numerous years before that informally discussing fitness with friends and co-workers that people who answer the “training question” in those general terms typically end up not making much long-term progress.
On the other hand, people who regularly put some skin in the game often find themselves more committed and experiencing greater success in both the short- and long-term.
Skin in the game
What skin in the game specifically means is somewhat different for everyone. But, generally, it involves risking something important by committing to participate in some type of event on a specific date.
Examples include:
- Signing up for a race or competition (e.g. 5k/marathon, martial arts tournament, Tactical Strength Challenge)
- Planning to take a beach vacation or attend a wedding or class reunion
- Going on an adventure or physical challenge (e.g. climbing a mountain, going on a back country hunting trip)
In some of those examples physical safety is obviously what’s potentially at risk. In others the risk is more psychological—fear of failure, appearing foolish, or making a bad impression.
But in every case the date of the event will eventually arrive. And any participant will want to be as ready as possible in order to avoid the potential negative consequences that would come with not being ready.
Wanting to be as ready as possible produces the motivation to consistently follow a plan.
And that consistency increases the likelihood of success.
Not a one-time thing
Having skin in the game doesn’t mean that we should constantly have an event on our calendars.
Chasing goal after goal after goal—physical goals anyway—is a good way to lead to burnout. So taking time after an event to rest and evaluate what went well and what went poorly during the training process is a good thing.
Resting in this case doesn’t mean sitting on the couch doing nothing. Instead, simply make your training sessions significantly easier or do a different activity altogether. This is also a good time to address any known weaknesses.
In any case, training for a specific activity or event for a total of roughly 9 months of the year is about right. That could include one, two, or three main events with 2-6 weeks “off” between events or, like sports, a “season” of a few events with 3-4 months of “offseason” afterward.
Putting it into practice
If you’re fairly active, chance are probably good that you have a few events on your calendar already. If that’s the case, consider what events you might be able to add to any extended offseason or what results you might experience if you actually built an offseason into your training (perhaps the more likely scenario).
If this concept is new to you, consider what challenge/activity/event that you might enjoy and that could be added to your calendar in the next few months. Then get it on your calendar! And remember, if it’s something new that you end up not actually enjoying, you don’t have to do it again. There are plenty of activities to choose from in the world.
Of course, if the thought of competing in something scares you and you have no idea what else to do or how to formulate a training plan that will produce results once you do decide on an activity, find out how to get started with group training or private coaching. The other TNT coaches and I can help you find and train for an event that will excite you and be both appropriately challenging and in line with your general fitness goals.