Tag: ironman coaching

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What Can You Do In Six Days?

By Coach Robbie for The Crushing Iron Podcast

What if I told you . . .

You could have 6 entire days to yourself.

You could use each of these days to better yourself.

Test yourself.

Grow.

Disconnect from life and all the chaos and stress it brings.

Clear you mind.

Soul search.

Show yourself how far you have come and be grateful.

When you get back you will still have your job, family, friends, etc. Nothing will have changed for them. To everyone around you it will be like you were never gone but you will feel like an entirely new person.

Does this sound like something you might be interested in? Great! I thought so! Since last October I have spent 144 hours training. THAT IS 6 DAYS!!

The greatest part of all that time spent was that I kept it all for myself. No Strava. No Garmin Connect. No nothing.

I compare every single session based on my personal effort of that day. Isn’t that what training is supposed to be about? How we test ourself each day and then grow from it?

Yes, I am sure you will try to convince me of all the great features that applications like Strava have but i don’t buy it. I don’t buy any of it. What is wrong with keeping something for yourself these days?

Sharing is not caring . . . for yourself in this sense.

You end each run. You sprint to upload it and then spend minutes comparing it do a past route. A past effort. A training buddy. Your biggest rival. Most of us got into endurance sports for ourselves but quickly got swept up in screenshot wars. I know I did.

We lose sleep over KOM or QOM segments in a virtual world where no one knows you or frankly even cares how you are doing…. they just want to do better then you. Period.

So stop sharing every damn thing you do. Go for a run in a quiet place where you can hear a pin drop.

Stop halfway. Look around and feel it. Feel WHY you do these things and remember that of all the hours in the day you have very, very few precious minutes to yourself. I challenge you to disconnect from all the gadgets and comparison and reconnect with yourself. Be selfish with your time and I bet you wont go back.

The Crushing Iron Podcast releases every Monday and Thursday. We have over 130 Episodes, including several that focus on the journey of our athletes. Please subscribe to the Crushing Iron Podcast on iTunes or sign up for the Crushing Iron Newsletter on this page.

If you’d like to take your training to the next level, please consider C26 Coaching. We also offer Triathlon Camps in Nashville, TN that are held in beautiful locations, with great people doing challenging workouts. An excellent alternative vacation in a great city.

Be sure to sign up for the Crushing Iron Newsletter at the top right of this page. Thanks for reading and listening to the Crushing Iron Podcast.

 

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A Coach's Ironman "Miracle"

This is the latest submission from my coach, Robbie Bruce.  I love it when he gets inspired and sits down at his phone to bust out a blog.  This one is especially close to my heart because I just experienced everything he’s written about and I’m pretty sure some of this piece was influenced by my family on September 8th in Madison.  The journey, the struggle, and how it impacts everyone who trains for Ironman. 

The Miracle of Ironman Coaching
By Robbie Bruce

I sat down on the couch this evening to watch one of my favorite movies, “Miracle.”  If you haven’t see it, you should.

It’s the story of the US hockey team’s remarkable and shocking journey to a gold medal in the 1980 Olympics.  It became one of my favorite sports movies originally just because of the unique story, it involved sports, and I am just a giant patriot at heart, so I loved every second of it.  Each time I watch the movie, I absorb more and more of the coaching aspect and how it relates to the athletes I coach who compete and train for Ironman.

Training for an Ironman is not like competing in the Olympics from an “athletic” standpoint, but both training processes have a lot in common from the approach of the athlete and coach. Both make a choice, a sacrifice to train, and go all-in for something far in the future, something unknown . . . all of it for one day.mikerobbie

Their friends and family are supportive but still wonder “why?” Why are you giving up so much of your life for such a long time, all for just for one day.  One race?  Then what?

In the world of instant gratification this is the opposite.  It is counter intuitive in every way possible.  It is giving up everything for the unknown.  It is giving up everything today for something so far away that may actually never present itself.

From a coaching standpoint you take on athletes with all different backgrounds, personalities, goals, and experiences. It is your job to get them to buy in to the process.  Every day will make “your day” and your day is Ironman.1270491_10101494431399420_714549893_o

Still, every time someone comes to me saying they want to do an “Ironman,” I know they have no idea what they are getting in to.  They are changing their life, not just signing up for a race. They don’t know it at the time, but they aren’t just signing up alone, they are about to embark on a journey that takes friends and family with them.  It is what makes coaching Ironman athletes so much different.

You know you are not only holding someone else’s dreams in your hands but also the hopes and nerves of parents, spouses, friends, co-workers and sometimes even strangers.  They believe in the one who is racing and wonder “who is this person coaching them?”  They have to believe in you without even usually setting eyes on you.  They look to their athlete and if they believe in their coach the others will too.  Belief by proxy.1277870_10101494432157900_1687841008_oIronman competitors become magnets.  You follow their training.  You follow their previous races.  People follow them.  The “Crushing Iron” following is a great example of that.  You actually give others something to believe in.  To hope for and to find joy in just from following or watching and even just refreshing an app.  They mentally race it with you.  They emotionally endure it with you.

I have had the honor to spectate and coach 2 Ironman races in the last 2 months.  I imagine most people think the most gratifying part of my job is watching the athletes cross the finish line with their goal time.  “MAN THEY CRUSHED IT,” as some people like to say.  I am still not sure what you “crush” or “kill” but whatever.  Yea, I used to think the same way from a time stand point.  They meet their goal and it’s a win.  Now, I watch them finish, glance at the clock with momentary elation, then watch them greet their support crew for the first time.  Their families.  Their friends.  The expression on their faces, the tears of joy, the hugs, the smiles of relief….. Man. That is what it is all about.1277431_10101494421738780_417964137_oYou realize you weren’t just coaching a person.  You were coaching a crowd of believers all standing behind one soul.   A person who goes off in the distance alone at 7 am and returns after most of the day is done.  You share in a their nerves during the race, absorb them and when its over…. You let it out.  The athletes stories, their wants, why they signed up.  You know exactly what they are thinking when they cross the line.  It is a community that brings you to tears.

Being responsible for having such a small part in an athletes journey to Ironman is an honor. Although stressful at times, it is the most rewarding job I could ever imagine.  Watching the first hug they give as they finish…. It is the tightest and most relieved of squeezes….”I knew you could do it.” – ” I am so proud of you.”- “That was amazing.”- I cant believe you did so well.”- “I love you.”- and the “You did it’s.”

You cant imagine it or recreate it any where else or in any other sport.  It is the sight of so many different people coming together as one.  There might be one person walking away with a medal and the title of being and “Ironman” but everyone around feels like one.  Proud.  Smiling. Energetic and so happy.  You may have “coached” 3-5 to “be one” but 25-30 walk away feeling like they too are an Ironman.

That’s the journey.  That is what makes it so amazing.  If the movie Miracle taught me anything it is that you can do anything once and take everyone else with you on the journey. Whether it is a gold medal or an Ironman, maybe it is time for you to take a trip………….1277373_10101494421698860_31971843_o