To prepare to fail is to fail to prepare…
As a multi-sport
athlete with a passion for a plethora of activities ranging from boxing to
ultramarathons I have always been astonished at some people’s approach to event
prep.
As any
builder or tradesman might tell you the key to good workmanship is all in the
preparation and the very same is applicable to pretty much everything you may
face in life, school, college, interviews and obviously applies to ANY form of
sporting activity or competitive sport.
To me and
with that matter to anyone who has a true understanding of event preparation
the prep itself can be, actually scratch that IS the most important element of
competing and is the difference between make or break!
Many many
people are able to put in days, weeks or month’s worth of training in key
preparation for an event in order to get into the best shape of their lives but
for some reason seem to neglect key elements. Below are a hand full of bullet
points and none of which involve your current state of physical fitness or
ability.
- · Pre event diet
- · Flexibility
- · Travel requirements
- · Race day logistics
- · Race kit
- · Race day supplements
- · Post-race recovery
- · Post-race nutrition
Having just
returned from a tough and technical 22 mile race up and back down mount Snowdon
I am more than aware that for 99% of us it is human nature (especially for men)
to overestimate our level of fitness or ability. Most of us are able to
physically ‘dig in’ and ‘grit our teeth’ to push through levels of tiredness or
exhaustion but should our race day supplements or kit let us down then quite
frankly its game over!
No amount
of durability can counteract a ‘bonking’ cyclist, a freezing ultra-runner on
the side of Snowdon or perhaps a cramping athlete of any other kind. The key
thing to remember is that each and every one of these elements performs a vital
role in an athlete’s success and is an essential cog in the wheel.
FAILURE TO PREPARE IS TO PREPARE TO FAIL!
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