November 6, 2025 • 35 mins
Coach Chris and Coach Carlie, sports performance consultant, unpack why “I’m not motivated” often means “I’m feeling big emotions,” how to reframe perfectionism, and simple tools—like the 10-Minute Rule—to build an off-season you’ll actually enjoy (and stick with).
You'll hear:
- Why the post-race motivation dip is normal—and what’s really going on
- Weather, daylight, and social routine shifts that change how training feels
- Perfectionism detox
- The 10-Minute Rule for low-friction consistency
- Journal prompts to get curious (not judgmental)
- Comparison trap: someone else’s training highs may be your peak
- Strategic resets: how stepping back can refill your cup
- Coach tactics: label “Optional,” pull unhelpful reds on Training Peaks and celebrate effort
Find journal prompts and more info here: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/navigating-off-season-motivation-emotions-and-expectations/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (01:00):
Hey friends, welcome back to the Find Your Edge
podcast.
I am Coach Chris and I am herewith Coach Carly because we're
here to drink coffee or water orwhatever and have a little chat
about the season change, thetransition from like being in
season to off-season, and thenwhat the heck do I do with
(01:24):
myself?
Uh why aren't I motivated?
Maybe I'm motivated, maybe it'ssomething else.
So let's chat about that.
And and um I'll kind of kick itoff that I've got this sort of
all started because an athletewas like, oh well, I'm just
(01:44):
trying to find my motivation.
And you said, and I was like,Oh, we need to start recording
right now.
SPEAKER_01 (01:53):
I wasn't sassy, y'all.
Further records.
No, you get sassy, but I wasn't.
We are never sassy.
But what you described made mesay, are they are they is it a
motivation thing or is it theemotion that they're having
surrounding their motivation atthe moment?
Because they're two differentthings.
But sometimes we let ouremotions get in the way and then
(02:15):
we feel like we're unmotivated,but we're not.
We're just not excited about ourmotivation.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (02:20):
Say more, pretty please.
SPEAKER_01 (02:25):
Okay, so I'll say the the more grandiose example
that everyone can sort ofresonate with is like I've
decided to sign up for my bigexciting race, right?
And you hit take all my money,and you sign up, and the like
that week you show up everymorning, you hit all your
(02:48):
workouts to a team.
Motivation is high, right?
Because you're really excitedabout it.
And then you sort of fall intothis rhythm, and it the the
motivation dips, right?
And we see this big wave.
It's in flux with the excitementwe're feeling about it.
We're not gonna stay feelinglike, oh my gosh, I'm doing this
(03:09):
really excited race everymorning at 5 a.m.
for the next year.
It's just not gonna happen.
Uh and so sort of separating thetwo a little bit and getting
curious, really, if it's justthat you're not excited about it
at the moment.
Because let me tell you,swimming at an outdoor pool
(03:30):
through the winter is notsomething that sparks super joy
for me.
But that doesn't mean I'm notmotivated towards the goal I'm
working for.
I'm just not super excited aboutwhat surrounds that goal at the
moment.
SPEAKER_00 (03:47):
Let me go.
Yeah.
So, like, as it's getting coolerout and maybe and the daylight
is shorter, and we can't do ourgroup runs or rides as much.
Or to your point, like, I don'treally want to swim outside
anymore.
And then open water goes away,for that matter.
(04:07):
Open water swimming.
Um so then it's kind of like, ohmy gosh, may it have is it
because our routines change?
SPEAKER_01 (04:18):
Well, and you also just described a social change
too, right?
If I meet up with a group everyweekend for open water swimming
and all of a sudden that group'snot doing that anymore, now I
have a social change in mypattern.
I have a temperature change,which can really impact how
we're feeling about things.
Uh so yeah, and generally we getbusier around this time of year
(04:38):
with holidays and events and allthat sort of stuff.
So it all shifts.
And again, it doesn't mean maybeyou are having a dip in
motivation.
I'm just saying get curiousabout it.
Because it might not be thatyou're lacking motivation.
It could just be that things arechanging right now and your
motivation feels different.
SPEAKER_00 (04:59):
Yeah.
Because I uh it feels like tome, this population, and I'm
probably talking to you outthere, uh, Mr.
and Mrs.
Hardcharging person who's like,you know, I will reach all the
goals professionally andathletically and personally, and
I will do them all all at once.
(05:20):
So if that sounds like you, it'salmost like we have to be on
high all the time.
And it's it's like thisexpectation, maybe societal
pressures or our own pressurethat we don't allow ourselves to
come down because of this.
Maybe it's a fear, and maybethat's an emotion that's coming
up.
Like, well, what happens if I'mnot riding my bike outside
(05:43):
anymore?
What happens if I'm not swimminganymore?
Or way less?
Like, will I lose fitness?
Will I disappoint myself?
Will I disappoint my coach?
Will I disappoint the world?
I don't, I don't know.
Chat with me.
SPEAKER_01 (05:59):
Yeah, no, yeah, you're like going deeper into
Pandora's box with all thedifferent things that could be
happening.
And again, this time of yearjust comes with lots of changes
to our routines when theweather, especially if you're
listening from a state that haslike deep winters, which isn't
something we really get here.
Like, honestly, the weather isgorgeous out here right now.
SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
It is I should not complain at all.
I'm like looking outside, I'mlike, hello, sunshine.
You are so like I'm pretty surethere's not a cloud in the set
in the sky at all.
But like if you're living inIceland, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01 (06:35):
But the grander sort of scheme.
And right now, right, anyonethat's thinking about their
training right now, likely, Imean, there's a few exceptions,
but likely they're thinkingabout a goal that's for next
year sometime.
So we're thinking a little bitlonger term here.
And again, to have thisexpectation and our high
(06:56):
achievers that do all thewonderful things often fall into
this.
It's a manifestation ofperfectionism when we think we
have to be highly motivated andexcited for the thing all of the
time.
Just like any area of your life,it's gonna wax and wane with the
times.
And it doesn't mean that themotivation isn't present.
It doesn't mean that youshouldn't stick with it, but to
(07:18):
expect to be excited to show upand train every day four months
or years for some of you on endbecause some people don't like
to take a break.
That's a different podcast.
Um it's just it's not it's notreal life, friends.
We gotta take, take some tip.
Maybe the season is telling youthat you do need to chill for a
(07:39):
little bit, and that's all good.
There's nothing wrong with that.
There's also nothing wrong withshowing up when you don't feel
like being there, and there's alot of magic in that part.
And then, yeah, it's super greatwhen you feel like working out
and you go and you do it.
Like, yeah, that's great.
But it's not gonna be like thatall the time, and that's okay.
Yeah, like just sort of pullingback that level of perfectionism
or the desire to have it alwaysfeel super great and exciting to
(08:02):
be out there.
It's just not gonna happen.
SPEAKER_00 (08:04):
Yeah.
I mean, hopefully, people canresonate with that.
Like, have you gone out forevery single training and been
like, oh my gosh, this isamazing?
SPEAKER_01 (08:14):
For I mean, anything.
I love my job.
Love, I love my job.
Are there days that I'm like, Ijust want the day off?
Does it have anything to do withmy job?
No, it's it's me.
You know, you just need a breaksometimes.
I love my husband dearly.
We've been married for almost 15years.
Do I always want to like spendtime with that man?
(08:35):
No, I need a break sometimes,okay?
It's normal.
We just sometimes it's a littledifferent.
It's all good.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (08:42):
Same with your training.
So is it is it that we need tolean into the or lean out of
perfectionism and change ourexpectations?
Or you know, because I just I Ifear for folks that they're
gonna be disappointingthemselves, or maybe they're
disappointing someone else.
(09:04):
I don't know.
You're welcome, Pandora's box.
I don't, you know, like so manydifferent things.
SPEAKER_01 (09:12):
Yes, I I am I would circle that back to my statement
of get curious, because that'sthat's a different answer for
each person.
Do some people maybe could maybeif you're training for an Iron
Man could lean into a littlemore perfectionism.
Yeah.
I'd say most of the time we'resaying we need to lean a little
out of the perfectionism, butthat's not, you know, it's not a
(09:34):
blanket statement for everyone.
Everyone has different skillsand tendencies and habits, so it
would depend on them.
But I would say to get curiousis my biggest thing.
Think about how often, if wecircle this back to your
original example, right now, I'mnot excited to get out and train
right now.
Or as more specifically said, Idon't feel motivated to get out
(09:57):
and train right now.
Why?
What are the things that'smaking you feel that way?
Are there other things that arecontributing to that emotion?
Again, maybe like work stress orfamily stress or something else
that's kind of just making youblah already.
And then like the blah abouttraining is kind of just making
it real fierce.
SPEAKER_00 (10:17):
But to your point, like getting curious, do you
have some ideas of like you yousort of mentioned one, like
let's say if we were to create afew journal prompts for people,
like literally writing out ofthe question, like, why do I not
feel motivated right now?
I feel like so many generationsare not taught to, like, you had
brought up emotions.
They're not taught to be like,this is the emotion you might be
(10:40):
experiencing.
You know, like I know mygeneration was like, go sit in
the corner and good luck withthat emotion.
You're like, I don't know whatI'm feeling.
Yes, nobody really taught me.
So, like, uh so is itmotivation?
Is emotion?
I don't know, do it like I Ihave this tendency, you very
well know this about me, is thatI like to ask six questions at
(11:01):
once.
SPEAKER_01 (11:02):
So I'm used to it now.
That's okay.
Uh back that up a couple.
And so I hope you guys all enjoyall of the squirrel moments that
Chris and I have.
When that's why we're calling acoffee shop.
When we have casualconversation, it yeah, it we it
goes everywhere.
When we get curious about what'shappening, why am I feeling this
(11:22):
way?
How often is it happening?
Is a big one.
Has it just been like the lastweek?
Then meh, if this is becoming alonger term pattern, okay, let's
think a little bit more aboutit.
I always look at that 50-50rule.
If we're tipping into most ofthe time, I'm not enjoying this.
What's going on?
Is our life out of balance?
(11:42):
Do we have extra stressors?
Are we burnt out?
All of that sort of stuff.
If it's less than that 50% andyou know, we've just had like a
couple weeks where it'swhatever, then let ride the wave
a little bit.
Just let's see what happens.
Keep checking in with yourselfabout what you're experiencing
to yourself about like yourpoint about what prompts could
(12:04):
we maybe use?
Yes, definitely explore that.
Like, what's happening?
When is it happening?
What am I feeling when it'shappening?
What are the contributingfactors?
But let's look at the oppositetoo.
All right, I haven't wanted toget to the pool in three weeks.
What would make me excited toget to the pool this week?
What, like, do I need to go havean unstructured workout?
(12:27):
Do I need to go join the group?
Do I need to go, I don't know,do all drills instead of speed?
Because we're in a speed uh justor just get in the water and
just start swimming.
SPEAKER_00 (12:39):
Yeah.
And then just don't stop.
SPEAKER_01 (12:40):
Yeah.
But but again, get curious, whatwould make it exciting?
Okay, let's try it.
Did it work?
Let's do more of that.
So again, thinking about whatwhat's going on.
Do is it something we actuallyneed to change, or should we
give ourselves a little graceand just ride the wave?
And then what could we do tostart sparking some enjoyment?
(13:00):
Because if we're not having fun,friends, we need to be having
fun.
That's why we're here.
SPEAKER_00 (13:06):
Yeah, it's lifelong enjoyment, is at the end of the
day, what this company is allabout.
Like you, you deserve to be andfeel healthy, like via your
movement and habits andbehaviors and nutrition choices,
and you know, you're probablynot gonna sustain the same level
(13:26):
of fitness or the same level ofdoing the same activity all the
time.
So it kind of has to like, youknow, be like a palm tree.
Or just like bending here andthere.
SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
Well, your happiness and your sanity at the end of
the day, if we don't have thosegoing on, what what are we doing
here?
Like it's gotta be fun.
Again, most of the time.
Some days are gonna not be sogreat, and that's okay.
It's also why we do this.
We like the challenge, right?
So, yeah.
Yeah, like pull like pullingteeth.
SPEAKER_00 (13:57):
Like, oh, I don't want to get up this morning.
Yeah.
My my trick, and unless it'sgoing somewhere, is, and by that
I mean like I am going to a poolworkout with the group.
Like, if I am going, I'mgenerally going to be committed
to that.
Like I will get in the water andI will stay the whole time.
Generally speaking, unlesssomething is just terribly off.
(14:18):
But if I'm going up on my own, Iusually try to do the 10-minute
roll.
Like, I'll start, I'll just belike, you know what?
I'm just gonna go to the end ofthe street and back.
That's gonna be my 10 minutes.
At the end of 10 minutes, I'mlike, okay, all right.
This is not so bad.
Like, I'm feeling okay.
Maybe I keep going, or maybe Ijust don't.
Yep.
And the end.
(14:42):
And like move on with my day.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (14:46):
But that also has a level of like a layer of
perfectionism pulled back fromthat, right?
Oh, tell me more about that.
Well, to be able to have thatflexibility and not beat
yourself up.
Training Peaks wasn't green thatday.
I went out, I did my 10 minutes,and I was like, that's it.
It's it's better for me to headhome.
(15:06):
To be able to be comfortablewith that outcome, that's not
perfectionism.
Which is great.
SPEAKER_00 (15:15):
Yeah.
Ooh, I feel so perfect rightnow.
The irony.
The irony.
Like, I made Carly excited.
No, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_01 (15:27):
Uh, it is that's great.
It's also something if myathletes are listening, you
might be one of the ones thatI've had that role with.
And particularly exactly whatwe're talking about.
I've had athletes go throughseasons where they're like, this
is I'm, I don't want to show up.
I don't want to go to classes, Idon't want to train for the
thing that I said I was gonnado.
And again, it's almost alwaysthis time of year, my friends.
(15:48):
It's totally normal.
Yeah, let's normalize it.
But I often implement that exactrule that you're talking about.
I'm like, all right, what is theleast objectionable thing?
Okay, you you want to go run.
That's what gets you mostexcited right now.
Let's do it.
That's what we're gonna focuson.
We're gonna have a 10-minuterule.
And after that 10 minutes, ifyou're just like, no, I don't
want to do it, turn around andcome back.
(16:10):
And you're gonna get a big oldhigh five from me that you
showed up for yourself for 10minutes and gave it a try.
Because every time we show upfor ourselves in some capacity,
we get high fives.
It's a great job.
SPEAKER_00 (16:20):
Yeah.
Which is making me think, andperhaps it's a bit of a channel
change, but making me think froma coaching end of things.
I feel like there are times whenlike the workouts need to be,
there are certain workouts thatneed to be done.
And then you get to a certainpoint where it's like, if you
miss that, okay, I don't care.
You know, and maybe that's onour part, like providing more
(16:42):
clarity to the athlete.
Like, and I wish training peakshad this like like like a gray
zone, you know, like if it's notdone, don't show up red.
Like this is like an optionalworkout that just maybe it just
disappears.
I don't know.
Like or turns gray or turns someneutral, just stays white.
I don't know.
I bet I feel like people get soattached.
(17:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (17:04):
Well, I I do I do exactly what you're talking
about.
I try to do that of I will writein the title of a workout, this
is optional.
And if if come Friday, becauseFriday is usually my day that I
spend a good chunk in trainingplans, if I see that they're
red, they're coming out.
We're not if if they're anathlete that I know will see red
and and have a hard time withthat, I'm pulling them.
(17:25):
We're not eating they're notthere, they're they're gone.
Look, poof, in everyone.
SPEAKER_00 (17:29):
I love that.
People are like, but trainingpeak said, I'm like, there's a
human behind that.
You realize?
Well, hopefully.
I mean, AI, I don't know about,and on our end of things,
there's not the like pre-madetraining plans, like, but I
mean, I'm sure you could stilldelete things, but it is very
refreshing to.
I I feel like for me personally,if I do take a break or when I
(17:53):
take a break, I just come backso much fresher.
Yeah.
And then I'll get into somethingand be like, oh, okay.
I think it's just that mental,the mental break.
Yeah.
And the physical break.
SPEAKER_01 (18:04):
I am also realizing that I feel like most of the
times when I come on thepodcast, I end up talking about
like being okay with takingbreaks.
Taking breaks.
I promise y'all, I push myathletes.
Okay.
Yeah.
Oh, yes.
So hard.
Yes.
But very much part of my job ishelping them find grace.
(18:25):
Again, this isn't across theboard for every athlete I've
worked with, but it's reallycommon.
You guys are higher performers.
You want to do your best.
You want to show up all thetime.
And I deeply find it part of myjob to help you find the grace
to be okay with the when we'rein a season that we're not going
to be peak, and that's okay,that's okay.
(18:46):
We it'll we can peak anothertime.
Yeah.
Right now, life is alsoimportant.
Life is always important.
Life balance is reallyimportant.
It's like the number onepredictor of longevity in sport.
But how can we support?
SPEAKER_00 (19:02):
How about that?
If you are out of balance, youprobably ain't gonna keep doing
it.
And you probably ain't gonnakeep doing a lot of other
things, honestly.
Like your marriage, you know, orrelationships.
If you are just wanting to trainall the time, or maybe not, it's
not even wanting, like you justare like, is there something
(19:23):
else that maybe you are hidingfrom?
That's Pandora's box.
SPEAKER_01 (19:30):
But I mean, maybe I and uh to sort of bring in this
other level of a lot of it alsocan come from comparison.
You know, a lot a yeah, a lot ofy'all might be shifting into uh
uh more of an off-season, we'llsay, even though we like to say
(19:53):
there isn't an off-season.
For some of y'all, there isn't.
Some people uh Coach Peter,maybe all year long.
We love hate you guys, okay?
Yeah.
I I love hate you.
I'm so excited for the life thatyou get to live.
This is not happening over here,okay?
(20:14):
No.
And it's real easy for us tolike I know for me, and I've I
don't know if I've shared thison the podcast before.
I know I've shared it with someof my athletes.
When I, especially if I've hadlike an Iron Man year, even if
I've done like a couple of 70.3sin a season, I take December off
my training plan and whateverplatform I'm using, there's
(20:36):
nothing in it.
And that scares a lot of peopleto think about.
unknown (20:43):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:44):
Yeah.
I know December for me is areset month.
I want to spend it with myfamily.
I'm catching up on time that Ihaven't gotten to spend with
them.
I'm hosting Friends Miss, andall my friends are coming over.
Like it is for the heart andsoul.
It's not for fitness.
Okay.
Will I somewhat pay for thatcome January?
(21:08):
Yeah, of course.
When I get back to it inJanuary, I'm gonna be like, ooh,
okay, yeah, haven't sat on thebike in a month.
Here we go.
But my heart and soul go intoevery January so full from
filling all my other cups inDecember that I can now come
back to my fitness cup and workon my fitness again.
(21:31):
Now, I don't think that's greatfor everybody.
I know some of y'all are like,if I ever tried to do that, I
would go absolutely insane.
I am very regimented.
If I do not have something on mytraining plan for the morning, I
will go crazy.
It's not for everyone.
My point is reflect and knowwhen you need some period of
(21:51):
time like that.
I have figured out the comeevery December.
I think I went through threeseasons of trying to have like a
very regimented December to setme up for a great start of the
year.
And I wasn't hitting it.
I didn't want to go.
I was skipping things, I wasbailing on them, and I was like,
what is going on?
And I did exactly what I'mtalking about in this podcast.
(22:13):
I sat down and was like, what'shappening?
Why?
Like, I love training.
I love trathlon.
It is clearly my life.
Y'all know that at this point,right?
Like for me to not want to bedoing those things, something
else is happening.
Something's off balance.
And when I sat down and lookedat what's going on, I was like,
of course.
Look at all these other thingsthat I'm like not quite making
(22:35):
enough time for because I'mtrying to fit in this training
and it's just not, it's notworking right now.
Yeah.
So that's what I do.
And it works for me.
It might not work for you.
But find that version for youwhen you come into this season,
this off season.
But more so back to thatcomparison, right?
You might look at Peter and belike, man, Peter's coming in at
(22:56):
and I somewhat say thisjokingly, I don't know what
Peter's up to.
Peter, I hope things are great.
I'll see you someday.
SPEAKER_00 (23:03):
But uh I don't know that he's heavily training right
now.
Um oh no, he's got Haines City,so he is training right now.
Of course he is.
But he uh to his point, youknow, because he said this on
the podcast, like he's rockedout some fitness this year, so
he's kind of like he's kind ofgliding.
Okay, you know, like there's notany, yes.
(23:24):
I mean, gliding for somebody whohas a VO2 max in the 60s, like
vomit.
No, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_01 (23:30):
Gliding for Peter is peak training for many of us,
just for perspective here.
But my point being, if you havesomeone in your circle that is
like Peter that is still likejust nailing their training, is
is going for it, you're lookingat them like, man, how do I do
that?
Like, why don't I feel likedoing this right now?
(23:51):
Why aren't I hitting my numberslike they are?
Why aren't whatever you might bethinking, right?
That's that person.
I will never train like Peter.
In my dreams, maybe I'll trainlike Peter, but in real life, my
genetics will never train likePeter.
Again, do what you need to bedoing.
Don't compare yourself tosomeone else and what they're
doing.
(24:11):
Because then you just feelcrummy about it.
And we're not all supposed to behitting November and December
like we have an Iron Man onJanuary 1st.
SPEAKER_00 (24:24):
Oh, yeah, good point.
I I like the thought of uhtraining peaks looking a little
different.
And shoot, even when I'm inseason, I typically will put
three workouts on my calendar interms of like these are the
things that I need to hit.
Yeah.
And then the other days I wakeup and I'm like, seems like a
good day to go for a run.
Mm-hmm.
And then I go for a run.
(24:46):
Like, but I know, okay, well,let's not push it too hard
because I know that tomorrowI've got this more intense ride
or yeah, whatever.
So different degrees sounds likeof what is expected of yourself
and trying not to compareyourself to others, trying not
to be too perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (25:07):
Yeah.
Well, and just know thatespecially here in the US, we
have this hustle culture of anyhigh performer, and when we say
high performer, we're talkinglike career and business and
what you're achieving outside ofyour career and you know,
16-hour days that you're puttingin and trying to have a family
(25:29):
on top of that, like it'sbonkers, y'all.
And if you're gonna allowyourself to listen to people or
take advice about motivation orroutines in a day, like we were
talking about morning routines,things like that, is that person
truly living a life that youwant to be living?
(25:50):
Is there, do you think they'rehaving the balance that you want
to have balance?
Do they have little kids at homelike you do?
Do they have a spouse like youdo?
Do they, you know, I'm willingto bet they have a lot of other
supports in in their life thatare taking certain things off of
their plate and giving them timeto do whatever it is that you're
(26:14):
sort of looking at, like, oh, Ishould find time to do that in
my day.
Do you have the time in yourday?
I I'm willing to bet youprobably don't.
Because the athletes that I knowthat come through our doors,
they're busy, y'all.
I mean, we gotta we got a coupleof retirees that are, you know,
living the good life.
They're still busy.
Oh, yeah.
(26:34):
Yeah.
You know.
But uh they're just again,reflect on what's actually going
on in your world and what youprioritize and what you want to
be prioritizing before you goseeing what someone else is
doing and think, oh, I should dothat with my time too.
Because we all got differentthings going on and we all have
(26:57):
different support systems tohelp us get through our 24
hours.
SPEAKER_00 (27:01):
So yeah.
So it sounds like reflect onpotential gaps in motivation.
Maybe what emotions could thatbe instead of a lack of
motivation?
And is there any unnecessaryperfectionism showing up or
comparison?
I would also like to add thatpeople you're freaking amazing.
(27:23):
Yeah.
Like if nobody's told you today,Carly and I will tell you today,
right in this moment, or day youare freaking amazing and you are
loved and you are perfect justthe way you are.
SPEAKER_01 (27:40):
Anything you want to add?
Uh I mean, I feel like I'vetalked this whole time, so I
don't know that I have rambledon at this point.
Hopefully, you guys have enjoyedit.
But yeah, y'all just quit beingso hard on yourself.
Yeah.
Give yourself a little grace.
You're doing amazing.
It's okay if you don't wake upexcited.
(28:02):
I would also question if maybeand I'll say this because
frequently when we had anoff-season, we sort of pick
something that we're gonna focuson on the off-season that we
didn't really have time to whenour volume was higher.
And is there some resistance forwhatever you have selected that
you are trying to focus on rightnow?
(28:22):
Because that might be more of anindicator of what's going on.
Maybe you're not super busy inthe holiday season and and
everything is super balanced,and you're like, Carly, that was
a crocobalone.
And I'd be like, all right,well, then what are you so
scared of about getting fasterin the pool?
Because if you're if you'resaying that's what you need to
be doing, what's the resistancethere?
SPEAKER_00 (28:44):
Yeah.
I for me personally, in thisseason having finished worlds,
and now I'm like, oh, but I Ineed to pick a goal.
I'm like, uh, maybe I justshouldn't yet.
I don't I'm trying to let it bevery organic.
And as I'm maybe searching forthings or people are, you know,
the team are talking aboutvarious things, I'm like, oh, is
(29:05):
that exciting?
And they're like, not really.
I don't know.
You know, it's gotta besomething that really lights me
up, but I've I I feel like thereis some level of expectation,
oh, I need to perform in thenext year or the next like what
are you doing next?
And uh I would have to say thatI don't know.
And it's a little bit freeing atthe moment.
(29:30):
It's uncomfortable.
I'm not gonna lie.
Yeah.
But it's also like I'm kind ofI'm kinda dead because I don't
wanna I don't want to commit tosomething, then I'm just like,
oh, because then training pieceis gonna be solid red.
And that does not excite me atall to be like, oh, I just don't
want to do this.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (29:50):
I was recently having a conversation about
athletic identity, which again,I'll podcast for another day.
I haven't raced since well, Iraced a little bit after I
started school, but I haven'traced in just over two years now
in Trathlon.
And even you have been like, Youcoming back?
Like you're gonna race.
SPEAKER_00 (30:08):
I'm like, hello, we miss you.
Hello.
SPEAKER_01 (30:10):
Uh but I was talking about this whole concept, and I
was like, look, I I've been aTrathlete for over 10 years, and
I haven't raced in two.
I will still call myself aTrathlete.
And I'm sure some of you mightbe rolling your eyes and
disagreeing with me, and that'sokay, because we're all
different.
I doubt it.
Um I doubt it.
(30:31):
I won, and I'm not gonna getinto a big story about why I
haven't been racing, but just alot to go back to school with a
little kid and a job.
Uh, and to support all thepeople that I need to and want
to be supporting, I needed totake a step back from racing and
having regimented training.
(30:54):
Because even taking a nonperfectionistic approach to
training, you still have to hita Enough of it to be in race
shape.
And I would not be able to beconsistent enough to get there
with how my life has been.
That doesn't change that I livein this world of trathlon.
I talk about it every day.
(31:15):
It is literally most of my dayis spent doing something related
to trathlon, which is kind ofweird to think about and say out
loud, but it's true.
But it's taught me a lot goingthrough a couple years of not
racing and being so heavilyinvolved in the sport.
I've had a lot ofself-development and kind of
(31:36):
like what you're saying, like,well, I feel like I should be
racing.
And I am a coach, so I feel likeI'm supposed to be training.
And I feel like there's anexpectation of others that I
should be doing something.
And then you kind of come out ofthe other side and you're like,
okay, that's it's not a fit forme right now.
I'm almost done.
Then I'll be back tracing.
(31:57):
It'll be really exciting.
And I'm excited to get back toit.
I'm excited to pick a race thatlike lights me on fire and gives
me like all this intrinsicmotivation to get going again.
And I'm trusting that it willcome when I'm ready for it.
But it's okay to take a breaktoo.
And look, I'm still here, youguys, and I still love
triathlon.
Like the world didn't end.
(32:17):
If anything, I'm probably moreinvolved with triathlon now than
I was then.
SPEAKER_00 (32:22):
Isn't that interesting?
Yeah.
I mean, I had a very similarexperience, like you were
describing with like being inschool and having young kids.
And there were several yearswhere I did not race at all.
And honestly, reflecting back onthat, I had no space in my
emotional or mental capacity todo so.
And I think had I tried to dothat, I would have physically
(32:44):
and mentally been wrecked.
Yeah.
And then, you know, you stillhave this, these little bieber
boppers who are like, soWinstoner, and are you gonna buy
me new clothes?
And then I would just be lyingin bed in the fetal position,
probably bawling my eyes out.
And uh, you know, that's no goodfor anybody.
(33:07):
Had I been trying to push myselfto train and race at that time.
So I like you have been atravelate since 2003 when I did
my first race, even though therewere multiple gaps in there, and
I am not ashamed to say thatthat's part of it.
Like, yeah.
So hopefully, hopefully folksare able to reflect on their own
(33:30):
needs.
Like, what is your soul callingyou to do right now, and
honoring that and respecting it,and knowing that hopefully
you'll feel fresher physically,mentally, emotionally on the
other end.
Cheers.
That was some good coffee, slashwater, slash whatever's in your
cup.
SPEAKER_01 (33:49):
Next time we'll do it in the morning and I'll have
my coffee.
My coffee is empty, but that'sokay.
It's more of a high tea timeright now.
SPEAKER_00 (33:55):
Yes, yes, for sure.
All right, y'all.
Thanks for listening to the FindYour Edge podcast.
If you found this valuable, ifyou want more, like if you have
follow up questions, you canalways comment.
You can always send us a DM onInstagram because Carly's on the
other end.
I try to be, I try to befriends.
(34:15):
So, huzzah.
All right, y'all.
We'll catch you next time.
Thanks, Carly.
Bye.
Hey friends, welcome back to the Find Your Edge
podcast.
I am Coach Chris and I am herewith Coach Carly because we're
here to drink coffee or water orwhatever and have a little chat
about the season change, thetransition from like being in
season to off-season, and thenwhat the heck do I do with
(01:24):
myself?
Uh why aren't I motivated?
Maybe I'm motivated, maybe it'ssomething else.
So let's chat about that.
And and um I'll kind of kick itoff that I've got this sort of
all started because an athletewas like, oh well, I'm just
(01:44):
trying to find my motivation.
And you said, and I was like,Oh, we need to start recording
right now.
SPEAKER_01 (01:53):
I wasn't sassy, y'all.
Further records.
No, you get sassy, but I wasn't.
We are never sassy.
But what you described made mesay, are they are they is it a
motivation thing or is it theemotion that they're having
surrounding their motivation atthe moment?
Because they're two differentthings.
But sometimes we let ouremotions get in the way and then
(02:15):
we feel like we're unmotivated,but we're not.
We're just not excited about ourmotivation.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (02:20):
Say more, pretty please.
SPEAKER_01 (02:25):
Okay, so I'll say the the more grandiose example
that everyone can sort ofresonate with is like I've
decided to sign up for my bigexciting race, right?
And you hit take all my money,and you sign up, and the like
that week you show up everymorning, you hit all your
(02:48):
workouts to a team.
Motivation is high, right?
Because you're really excitedabout it.
And then you sort of fall intothis rhythm, and it the the
motivation dips, right?
And we see this big wave.
It's in flux with the excitementwe're feeling about it.
We're not gonna stay feelinglike, oh my gosh, I'm doing this
(03:09):
really excited race everymorning at 5 a.m.
for the next year.
It's just not gonna happen.
Uh and so sort of separating thetwo a little bit and getting
curious, really, if it's justthat you're not excited about it
at the moment.
Because let me tell you,swimming at an outdoor pool
(03:30):
through the winter is notsomething that sparks super joy
for me.
But that doesn't mean I'm notmotivated towards the goal I'm
working for.
I'm just not super excited aboutwhat surrounds that goal at the
moment.
SPEAKER_00 (03:47):
Let me go.
Yeah.
So, like, as it's getting coolerout and maybe and the daylight
is shorter, and we can't do ourgroup runs or rides as much.
Or to your point, like, I don'treally want to swim outside
anymore.
And then open water goes away,for that matter.
(04:07):
Open water swimming.
Um so then it's kind of like, ohmy gosh, may it have is it
because our routines change?
SPEAKER_01 (04:18):
Well, and you also just described a social change
too, right?
If I meet up with a group everyweekend for open water swimming
and all of a sudden that group'snot doing that anymore, now I
have a social change in mypattern.
I have a temperature change,which can really impact how
we're feeling about things.
Uh so yeah, and generally we getbusier around this time of year
(04:38):
with holidays and events and allthat sort of stuff.
So it all shifts.
And again, it doesn't mean maybeyou are having a dip in
motivation.
I'm just saying get curiousabout it.
Because it might not be thatyou're lacking motivation.
It could just be that things arechanging right now and your
motivation feels different.
SPEAKER_00 (04:59):
Yeah.
Because I uh it feels like tome, this population, and I'm
probably talking to you outthere, uh, Mr.
and Mrs.
Hardcharging person who's like,you know, I will reach all the
goals professionally andathletically and personally, and
I will do them all all at once.
(05:20):
So if that sounds like you, it'salmost like we have to be on
high all the time.
And it's it's like thisexpectation, maybe societal
pressures or our own pressurethat we don't allow ourselves to
come down because of this.
Maybe it's a fear, and maybethat's an emotion that's coming
up.
Like, well, what happens if I'mnot riding my bike outside
(05:43):
anymore?
What happens if I'm not swimminganymore?
Or way less?
Like, will I lose fitness?
Will I disappoint myself?
Will I disappoint my coach?
Will I disappoint the world?
I don't, I don't know.
Chat with me.
SPEAKER_01 (05:59):
Yeah, no, yeah, you're like going deeper into
Pandora's box with all thedifferent things that could be
happening.
And again, this time of yearjust comes with lots of changes
to our routines when theweather, especially if you're
listening from a state that haslike deep winters, which isn't
something we really get here.
Like, honestly, the weather isgorgeous out here right now.
SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
It is I should not complain at all.
I'm like looking outside, I'mlike, hello, sunshine.
You are so like I'm pretty surethere's not a cloud in the set
in the sky at all.
But like if you're living inIceland, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01 (06:35):
But the grander sort of scheme.
And right now, right, anyonethat's thinking about their
training right now, likely, Imean, there's a few exceptions,
but likely they're thinkingabout a goal that's for next
year sometime.
So we're thinking a little bitlonger term here.
And again, to have thisexpectation and our high
(06:56):
achievers that do all thewonderful things often fall into
this.
It's a manifestation ofperfectionism when we think we
have to be highly motivated andexcited for the thing all of the
time.
Just like any area of your life,it's gonna wax and wane with the
times.
And it doesn't mean that themotivation isn't present.
It doesn't mean that youshouldn't stick with it, but to
(07:18):
expect to be excited to show upand train every day four months
or years for some of you on endbecause some people don't like
to take a break.
That's a different podcast.
Um it's just it's not it's notreal life, friends.
We gotta take, take some tip.
Maybe the season is telling youthat you do need to chill for a
(07:39):
little bit, and that's all good.
There's nothing wrong with that.
There's also nothing wrong withshowing up when you don't feel
like being there, and there's alot of magic in that part.
And then, yeah, it's super greatwhen you feel like working out
and you go and you do it.
Like, yeah, that's great.
But it's not gonna be like thatall the time, and that's okay.
Yeah, like just sort of pullingback that level of perfectionism
or the desire to have it alwaysfeel super great and exciting to
(08:02):
be out there.
It's just not gonna happen.
SPEAKER_00 (08:04):
Yeah.
I mean, hopefully, people canresonate with that.
Like, have you gone out forevery single training and been
like, oh my gosh, this isamazing?
SPEAKER_01 (08:14):
For I mean, anything.
I love my job.
Love, I love my job.
Are there days that I'm like, Ijust want the day off?
Does it have anything to do withmy job?
No, it's it's me.
You know, you just need a breaksometimes.
I love my husband dearly.
We've been married for almost 15years.
Do I always want to like spendtime with that man?
(08:35):
No, I need a break sometimes,okay?
It's normal.
We just sometimes it's a littledifferent.
It's all good.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (08:42):
Same with your training.
So is it is it that we need tolean into the or lean out of
perfectionism and change ourexpectations?
Or you know, because I just I Ifear for folks that they're
gonna be disappointingthemselves, or maybe they're
disappointing someone else.
(09:04):
I don't know.
You're welcome, Pandora's box.
I don't, you know, like so manydifferent things.
SPEAKER_01 (09:12):
Yes, I I am I would circle that back to my statement
of get curious, because that'sthat's a different answer for
each person.
Do some people maybe could maybeif you're training for an Iron
Man could lean into a littlemore perfectionism.
Yeah.
I'd say most of the time we'resaying we need to lean a little
out of the perfectionism, butthat's not, you know, it's not a
(09:34):
blanket statement for everyone.
Everyone has different skillsand tendencies and habits, so it
would depend on them.
But I would say to get curiousis my biggest thing.
Think about how often, if wecircle this back to your
original example, right now, I'mnot excited to get out and train
right now.
Or as more specifically said, Idon't feel motivated to get out
(09:57):
and train right now.
Why?
What are the things that'smaking you feel that way?
Are there other things that arecontributing to that emotion?
Again, maybe like work stress orfamily stress or something else
that's kind of just making youblah already.
And then like the blah abouttraining is kind of just making
it real fierce.
SPEAKER_00 (10:17):
But to your point, like getting curious, do you
have some ideas of like you yousort of mentioned one, like
let's say if we were to create afew journal prompts for people,
like literally writing out ofthe question, like, why do I not
feel motivated right now?
I feel like so many generationsare not taught to, like, you had
brought up emotions.
They're not taught to be like,this is the emotion you might be
(10:40):
experiencing.
You know, like I know mygeneration was like, go sit in
the corner and good luck withthat emotion.
You're like, I don't know whatI'm feeling.
Yes, nobody really taught me.
So, like, uh so is itmotivation?
Is emotion?
I don't know, do it like I Ihave this tendency, you very
well know this about me, is thatI like to ask six questions at
(11:01):
once.
SPEAKER_01 (11:02):
So I'm used to it now.
That's okay.
Uh back that up a couple.
And so I hope you guys all enjoyall of the squirrel moments that
Chris and I have.
When that's why we're calling acoffee shop.
When we have casualconversation, it yeah, it we it
goes everywhere.
When we get curious about what'shappening, why am I feeling this
(11:22):
way?
How often is it happening?
Is a big one.
Has it just been like the lastweek?
Then meh, if this is becoming alonger term pattern, okay, let's
think a little bit more aboutit.
I always look at that 50-50rule.
If we're tipping into most ofthe time, I'm not enjoying this.
What's going on?
Is our life out of balance?
(11:42):
Do we have extra stressors?
Are we burnt out?
All of that sort of stuff.
If it's less than that 50% andyou know, we've just had like a
couple weeks where it'swhatever, then let ride the wave
a little bit.
Just let's see what happens.
Keep checking in with yourselfabout what you're experiencing
to yourself about like yourpoint about what prompts could
(12:04):
we maybe use?
Yes, definitely explore that.
Like, what's happening?
When is it happening?
What am I feeling when it'shappening?
What are the contributingfactors?
But let's look at the oppositetoo.
All right, I haven't wanted toget to the pool in three weeks.
What would make me excited toget to the pool this week?
What, like, do I need to go havean unstructured workout?
(12:27):
Do I need to go join the group?
Do I need to go, I don't know,do all drills instead of speed?
Because we're in a speed uh justor just get in the water and
just start swimming.
SPEAKER_00 (12:39):
Yeah.
And then just don't stop.
SPEAKER_01 (12:40):
Yeah.
But but again, get curious, whatwould make it exciting?
Okay, let's try it.
Did it work?
Let's do more of that.
So again, thinking about whatwhat's going on.
Do is it something we actuallyneed to change, or should we
give ourselves a little graceand just ride the wave?
And then what could we do tostart sparking some enjoyment?
(13:00):
Because if we're not having fun,friends, we need to be having
fun.
That's why we're here.
SPEAKER_00 (13:06):
Yeah, it's lifelong enjoyment, is at the end of the
day, what this company is allabout.
Like you, you deserve to be andfeel healthy, like via your
movement and habits andbehaviors and nutrition choices,
and you know, you're probablynot gonna sustain the same level
(13:26):
of fitness or the same level ofdoing the same activity all the
time.
So it kind of has to like, youknow, be like a palm tree.
Or just like bending here andthere.
SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
Well, your happiness and your sanity at the end of
the day, if we don't have thosegoing on, what what are we doing
here?
Like it's gotta be fun.
Again, most of the time.
Some days are gonna not be sogreat, and that's okay.
It's also why we do this.
We like the challenge, right?
So, yeah.
Yeah, like pull like pullingteeth.
SPEAKER_00 (13:57):
Like, oh, I don't want to get up this morning.
Yeah.
My my trick, and unless it'sgoing somewhere, is, and by that
I mean like I am going to a poolworkout with the group.
Like, if I am going, I'mgenerally going to be committed
to that.
Like I will get in the water andI will stay the whole time.
Generally speaking, unlesssomething is just terribly off.
(14:18):
But if I'm going up on my own, Iusually try to do the 10-minute
roll.
Like, I'll start, I'll just belike, you know what?
I'm just gonna go to the end ofthe street and back.
That's gonna be my 10 minutes.
At the end of 10 minutes, I'mlike, okay, all right.
This is not so bad.
Like, I'm feeling okay.
Maybe I keep going, or maybe Ijust don't.
Yep.
And the end.
(14:42):
And like move on with my day.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (14:46):
But that also has a level of like a layer of
perfectionism pulled back fromthat, right?
Oh, tell me more about that.
Well, to be able to have thatflexibility and not beat
yourself up.
Training Peaks wasn't green thatday.
I went out, I did my 10 minutes,and I was like, that's it.
It's it's better for me to headhome.
(15:06):
To be able to be comfortablewith that outcome, that's not
perfectionism.
Which is great.
SPEAKER_00 (15:15):
Yeah.
Ooh, I feel so perfect rightnow.
The irony.
The irony.
Like, I made Carly excited.
No, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_01 (15:27):
Uh, it is that's great.
It's also something if myathletes are listening, you
might be one of the ones thatI've had that role with.
And particularly exactly whatwe're talking about.
I've had athletes go throughseasons where they're like, this
is I'm, I don't want to show up.
I don't want to go to classes, Idon't want to train for the
thing that I said I was gonnado.
And again, it's almost alwaysthis time of year, my friends.
(15:48):
It's totally normal.
Yeah, let's normalize it.
But I often implement that exactrule that you're talking about.
I'm like, all right, what is theleast objectionable thing?
Okay, you you want to go run.
That's what gets you mostexcited right now.
Let's do it.
That's what we're gonna focuson.
We're gonna have a 10-minuterule.
And after that 10 minutes, ifyou're just like, no, I don't
want to do it, turn around andcome back.
(16:10):
And you're gonna get a big oldhigh five from me that you
showed up for yourself for 10minutes and gave it a try.
Because every time we show upfor ourselves in some capacity,
we get high fives.
It's a great job.
SPEAKER_00 (16:20):
Yeah.
Which is making me think, andperhaps it's a bit of a channel
change, but making me think froma coaching end of things.
I feel like there are times whenlike the workouts need to be,
there are certain workouts thatneed to be done.
And then you get to a certainpoint where it's like, if you
miss that, okay, I don't care.
You know, and maybe that's onour part, like providing more
(16:42):
clarity to the athlete.
Like, and I wish training peakshad this like like like a gray
zone, you know, like if it's notdone, don't show up red.
Like this is like an optionalworkout that just maybe it just
disappears.
I don't know.
Like or turns gray or turns someneutral, just stays white.
I don't know.
I bet I feel like people get soattached.
(17:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (17:04):
Well, I I do I do exactly what you're talking
about.
I try to do that of I will writein the title of a workout, this
is optional.
And if if come Friday, becauseFriday is usually my day that I
spend a good chunk in trainingplans, if I see that they're
red, they're coming out.
We're not if if they're anathlete that I know will see red
and and have a hard time withthat, I'm pulling them.
(17:25):
We're not eating they're notthere, they're they're gone.
Look, poof, in everyone.
SPEAKER_00 (17:29):
I love that.
People are like, but trainingpeak said, I'm like, there's a
human behind that.
You realize?
Well, hopefully.
I mean, AI, I don't know about,and on our end of things,
there's not the like pre-madetraining plans, like, but I
mean, I'm sure you could stilldelete things, but it is very
refreshing to.
I I feel like for me personally,if I do take a break or when I
(17:53):
take a break, I just come backso much fresher.
Yeah.
And then I'll get into somethingand be like, oh, okay.
I think it's just that mental,the mental break.
Yeah.
And the physical break.
SPEAKER_01 (18:04):
I am also realizing that I feel like most of the
times when I come on thepodcast, I end up talking about
like being okay with takingbreaks.
Taking breaks.
I promise y'all, I push myathletes.
Okay.
Yeah.
Oh, yes.
So hard.
Yes.
But very much part of my job ishelping them find grace.
(18:25):
Again, this isn't across theboard for every athlete I've
worked with, but it's reallycommon.
You guys are higher performers.
You want to do your best.
You want to show up all thetime.
And I deeply find it part of myjob to help you find the grace
to be okay with the when we'rein a season that we're not going
to be peak, and that's okay,that's okay.
(18:46):
We it'll we can peak anothertime.
Yeah.
Right now, life is alsoimportant.
Life is always important.
Life balance is reallyimportant.
It's like the number onepredictor of longevity in sport.
But how can we support?
SPEAKER_00 (19:02):
How about that?
If you are out of balance, youprobably ain't gonna keep doing
it.
And you probably ain't gonnakeep doing a lot of other
things, honestly.
Like your marriage, you know, orrelationships.
If you are just wanting to trainall the time, or maybe not, it's
not even wanting, like you justare like, is there something
(19:23):
else that maybe you are hidingfrom?
That's Pandora's box.
SPEAKER_01 (19:30):
But I mean, maybe I and uh to sort of bring in this
other level of a lot of it alsocan come from comparison.
You know, a lot a yeah, a lot ofy'all might be shifting into uh
uh more of an off-season, we'llsay, even though we like to say
(19:53):
there isn't an off-season.
For some of y'all, there isn't.
Some people uh Coach Peter,maybe all year long.
We love hate you guys, okay?
Yeah.
I I love hate you.
I'm so excited for the life thatyou get to live.
This is not happening over here,okay?
(20:14):
No.
And it's real easy for us tolike I know for me, and I've I
don't know if I've shared thison the podcast before.
I know I've shared it with someof my athletes.
When I, especially if I've hadlike an Iron Man year, even if
I've done like a couple of 70.3sin a season, I take December off
my training plan and whateverplatform I'm using, there's
(20:36):
nothing in it.
And that scares a lot of peopleto think about.
unknown (20:43):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:44):
Yeah.
I know December for me is areset month.
I want to spend it with myfamily.
I'm catching up on time that Ihaven't gotten to spend with
them.
I'm hosting Friends Miss, andall my friends are coming over.
Like it is for the heart andsoul.
It's not for fitness.
Okay.
Will I somewhat pay for thatcome January?
(21:08):
Yeah, of course.
When I get back to it inJanuary, I'm gonna be like, ooh,
okay, yeah, haven't sat on thebike in a month.
Here we go.
But my heart and soul go intoevery January so full from
filling all my other cups inDecember that I can now come
back to my fitness cup and workon my fitness again.
(21:31):
Now, I don't think that's greatfor everybody.
I know some of y'all are like,if I ever tried to do that, I
would go absolutely insane.
I am very regimented.
If I do not have something on mytraining plan for the morning, I
will go crazy.
It's not for everyone.
My point is reflect and knowwhen you need some period of
(21:51):
time like that.
I have figured out the comeevery December.
I think I went through threeseasons of trying to have like a
very regimented December to setme up for a great start of the
year.
And I wasn't hitting it.
I didn't want to go.
I was skipping things, I wasbailing on them, and I was like,
what is going on?
And I did exactly what I'mtalking about in this podcast.
(22:13):
I sat down and was like, what'shappening?
Why?
Like, I love training.
I love trathlon.
It is clearly my life.
Y'all know that at this point,right?
Like for me to not want to bedoing those things, something
else is happening.
Something's off balance.
And when I sat down and lookedat what's going on, I was like,
of course.
Look at all these other thingsthat I'm like not quite making
(22:35):
enough time for because I'mtrying to fit in this training
and it's just not, it's notworking right now.
Yeah.
So that's what I do.
And it works for me.
It might not work for you.
But find that version for youwhen you come into this season,
this off season.
But more so back to thatcomparison, right?
You might look at Peter and belike, man, Peter's coming in at
(22:56):
and I somewhat say thisjokingly, I don't know what
Peter's up to.
Peter, I hope things are great.
I'll see you someday.
SPEAKER_00 (23:03):
But uh I don't know that he's heavily training right
now.
Um oh no, he's got Haines City,so he is training right now.
Of course he is.
But he uh to his point, youknow, because he said this on
the podcast, like he's rockedout some fitness this year, so
he's kind of like he's kind ofgliding.
Okay, you know, like there's notany, yes.
(23:24):
I mean, gliding for somebody whohas a VO2 max in the 60s, like
vomit.
No, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_01 (23:30):
Gliding for Peter is peak training for many of us,
just for perspective here.
But my point being, if you havesomeone in your circle that is
like Peter that is still likejust nailing their training, is
is going for it, you're lookingat them like, man, how do I do
that?
Like, why don't I feel likedoing this right now?
(23:51):
Why aren't I hitting my numberslike they are?
Why aren't whatever you might bethinking, right?
That's that person.
I will never train like Peter.
In my dreams, maybe I'll trainlike Peter, but in real life, my
genetics will never train likePeter.
Again, do what you need to bedoing.
Don't compare yourself tosomeone else and what they're
doing.
(24:11):
Because then you just feelcrummy about it.
And we're not all supposed to behitting November and December
like we have an Iron Man onJanuary 1st.
SPEAKER_00 (24:24):
Oh, yeah, good point.
I I like the thought of uhtraining peaks looking a little
different.
And shoot, even when I'm inseason, I typically will put
three workouts on my calendar interms of like these are the
things that I need to hit.
Yeah.
And then the other days I wakeup and I'm like, seems like a
good day to go for a run.
Mm-hmm.
And then I go for a run.
(24:46):
Like, but I know, okay, well,let's not push it too hard
because I know that tomorrowI've got this more intense ride
or yeah, whatever.
So different degrees sounds likeof what is expected of yourself
and trying not to compareyourself to others, trying not
to be too perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (25:07):
Yeah.
Well, and just know thatespecially here in the US, we
have this hustle culture of anyhigh performer, and when we say
high performer, we're talkinglike career and business and
what you're achieving outside ofyour career and you know,
16-hour days that you're puttingin and trying to have a family
(25:29):
on top of that, like it'sbonkers, y'all.
And if you're gonna allowyourself to listen to people or
take advice about motivation orroutines in a day, like we were
talking about morning routines,things like that, is that person
truly living a life that youwant to be living?
(25:50):
Is there, do you think they'rehaving the balance that you want
to have balance?
Do they have little kids at homelike you do?
Do they have a spouse like youdo?
Do they, you know, I'm willingto bet they have a lot of other
supports in in their life thatare taking certain things off of
their plate and giving them timeto do whatever it is that you're
(26:14):
sort of looking at, like, oh, Ishould find time to do that in
my day.
Do you have the time in yourday?
I I'm willing to bet youprobably don't.
Because the athletes that I knowthat come through our doors,
they're busy, y'all.
I mean, we gotta we got a coupleof retirees that are, you know,
living the good life.
They're still busy.
Oh, yeah.
(26:34):
Yeah.
You know.
But uh they're just again,reflect on what's actually going
on in your world and what youprioritize and what you want to
be prioritizing before you goseeing what someone else is
doing and think, oh, I should dothat with my time too.
Because we all got differentthings going on and we all have
(26:57):
different support systems tohelp us get through our 24
hours.
SPEAKER_00 (27:01):
So yeah.
So it sounds like reflect onpotential gaps in motivation.
Maybe what emotions could thatbe instead of a lack of
motivation?
And is there any unnecessaryperfectionism showing up or
comparison?
I would also like to add thatpeople you're freaking amazing.
(27:23):
Yeah.
Like if nobody's told you today,Carly and I will tell you today,
right in this moment, or day youare freaking amazing and you are
loved and you are perfect justthe way you are.
SPEAKER_01 (27:40):
Anything you want to add?
Uh I mean, I feel like I'vetalked this whole time, so I
don't know that I have rambledon at this point.
Hopefully, you guys have enjoyedit.
But yeah, y'all just quit beingso hard on yourself.
Yeah.
Give yourself a little grace.
You're doing amazing.
It's okay if you don't wake upexcited.
(28:02):
I would also question if maybeand I'll say this because
frequently when we had anoff-season, we sort of pick
something that we're gonna focuson on the off-season that we
didn't really have time to whenour volume was higher.
And is there some resistance forwhatever you have selected that
you are trying to focus on rightnow?
(28:22):
Because that might be more of anindicator of what's going on.
Maybe you're not super busy inthe holiday season and and
everything is super balanced,and you're like, Carly, that was
a crocobalone.
And I'd be like, all right,well, then what are you so
scared of about getting fasterin the pool?
Because if you're if you'resaying that's what you need to
be doing, what's the resistancethere?
SPEAKER_00 (28:44):
Yeah.
I for me personally, in thisseason having finished worlds,
and now I'm like, oh, but I Ineed to pick a goal.
I'm like, uh, maybe I justshouldn't yet.
I don't I'm trying to let it bevery organic.
And as I'm maybe searching forthings or people are, you know,
the team are talking aboutvarious things, I'm like, oh, is
(29:05):
that exciting?
And they're like, not really.
I don't know.
You know, it's gotta besomething that really lights me
up, but I've I I feel like thereis some level of expectation,
oh, I need to perform in thenext year or the next like what
are you doing next?
And uh I would have to say thatI don't know.
And it's a little bit freeing atthe moment.
(29:30):
It's uncomfortable.
I'm not gonna lie.
Yeah.
But it's also like I'm kind ofI'm kinda dead because I don't
wanna I don't want to commit tosomething, then I'm just like,
oh, because then training pieceis gonna be solid red.
And that does not excite me atall to be like, oh, I just don't
want to do this.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (29:50):
I was recently having a conversation about
athletic identity, which again,I'll podcast for another day.
I haven't raced since well, Iraced a little bit after I
started school, but I haven'traced in just over two years now
in Trathlon.
And even you have been like, Youcoming back?
Like you're gonna race.
SPEAKER_00 (30:08):
I'm like, hello, we miss you.
Hello.
SPEAKER_01 (30:10):
Uh but I was talking about this whole concept, and I
was like, look, I I've been aTrathlete for over 10 years, and
I haven't raced in two.
I will still call myself aTrathlete.
And I'm sure some of you mightbe rolling your eyes and
disagreeing with me, and that'sokay, because we're all
different.
I doubt it.
Um I doubt it.
(30:31):
I won, and I'm not gonna getinto a big story about why I
haven't been racing, but just alot to go back to school with a
little kid and a job.
Uh, and to support all thepeople that I need to and want
to be supporting, I needed totake a step back from racing and
having regimented training.
(30:54):
Because even taking a nonperfectionistic approach to
training, you still have to hita Enough of it to be in race
shape.
And I would not be able to beconsistent enough to get there
with how my life has been.
That doesn't change that I livein this world of trathlon.
I talk about it every day.
(31:15):
It is literally most of my dayis spent doing something related
to trathlon, which is kind ofweird to think about and say out
loud, but it's true.
But it's taught me a lot goingthrough a couple years of not
racing and being so heavilyinvolved in the sport.
I've had a lot ofself-development and kind of
(31:36):
like what you're saying, like,well, I feel like I should be
racing.
And I am a coach, so I feel likeI'm supposed to be training.
And I feel like there's anexpectation of others that I
should be doing something.
And then you kind of come out ofthe other side and you're like,
okay, that's it's not a fit forme right now.
I'm almost done.
Then I'll be back tracing.
(31:57):
It'll be really exciting.
And I'm excited to get back toit.
I'm excited to pick a race thatlike lights me on fire and gives
me like all this intrinsicmotivation to get going again.
And I'm trusting that it willcome when I'm ready for it.
But it's okay to take a breaktoo.
And look, I'm still here, youguys, and I still love
triathlon.
Like the world didn't end.
(32:17):
If anything, I'm probably moreinvolved with triathlon now than
I was then.
SPEAKER_00 (32:22):
Isn't that interesting?
Yeah.
I mean, I had a very similarexperience, like you were
describing with like being inschool and having young kids.
And there were several yearswhere I did not race at all.
And honestly, reflecting back onthat, I had no space in my
emotional or mental capacity todo so.
And I think had I tried to dothat, I would have physically
(32:44):
and mentally been wrecked.
Yeah.
And then, you know, you stillhave this, these little bieber
boppers who are like, soWinstoner, and are you gonna buy
me new clothes?
And then I would just be lyingin bed in the fetal position,
probably bawling my eyes out.
And uh, you know, that's no goodfor anybody.
(33:07):
Had I been trying to push myselfto train and race at that time.
So I like you have been atravelate since 2003 when I did
my first race, even though therewere multiple gaps in there, and
I am not ashamed to say thatthat's part of it.
Like, yeah.
So hopefully, hopefully folksare able to reflect on their own
(33:30):
needs.
Like, what is your soul callingyou to do right now, and
honoring that and respecting it,and knowing that hopefully
you'll feel fresher physically,mentally, emotionally on the
other end.
Cheers.
That was some good coffee, slashwater, slash whatever's in your
cup.
SPEAKER_01 (33:49):
Next time we'll do it in the morning and I'll have
my coffee.
My coffee is empty, but that'sokay.
It's more of a high tea timeright now.
SPEAKER_00 (33:55):
Yes, yes, for sure.
All right, y'all.
Thanks for listening to the FindYour Edge podcast.
If you found this valuable, ifyou want more, like if you have
follow up questions, you canalways comment.
You can always send us a DM onInstagram because Carly's on the
other end.
I try to be, I try to befriends.
(34:15):
So, huzzah.
All right, y'all.
We'll catch you next time.
Thanks, Carly.
Bye.
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