Know Your Hunt
What are you hunting?
What future goals are driving you to keep grinding? To maintain the lifestyle you’ve decided is best for you?
Establishing goals can be difficult. You might have a mental image of the outcome you’re working towards, but can you clearly define those aspirations?
Think about what your expectations are. And not just from training, but while training. Do you want to feel better? Do you want to perform better? Or do you want to look a certain way? Figuring out what’s most important to you lets you:
1. Focus your energy on a plan that inches you towards that outcome, and
2. Establish markers to track your progress
Personally, before COVID, I was hunting numbers. I wanted to increase my relative strength in all major movements – squats, deadlifts, bench presses, rows... Essentially, I just wanted to get stronger at my bodyweight. So, I followed a plan. Tracked my weight progressions, enjoyed my nutrition plan, and pursued a lifestyle that focused on achieving that outcome.
But now, with COVID-19 still mucking about? My options for training equipment is completely limited. Having been stuck in an apartment with a random assortment of bands and lightweight dumbbells means I had to reconsider my hunt. I had to be realistic with my goals, and thus how I pursue them. This meant I had to tweak my lifestyle a little so I could create a plan where I could enjoy this new process.
Instead of hunting quantitative markers, I veered towards qualitative results. I decided I wanted to move a little better and I wanted to develop some muscle definition. This adjustment, trust me, wasn’t easy. I’ve always been reliant on quantitative markers, so fortunately I could still chase some metrics with the Peloton (shout out to the PowerZonePack); but, even though the lack of quantitative measures in my resistance training sessions reduced my sense of success, I learned to appreciate the process more. I learned to tune into different sensations instead of simply grinding against heavy weights all day. And a learnt a little something about Goal Setting:
Goals need to be REALISTIC. If we don’t have the means to train in a way that moves us towards our goal, then how can we expect to achieve it?
If you don’t have the means to lift heavy (due to a lack of equipment availability), then how can we expect to train to lift heavy?
If you don’t cycle, then how can you expect to improve your cycling time in the triathlon?
If our goals aren’t realistic, all we can expect is frustration over our failure.
So, know your hunt, and know what you can hunt it. Don’t settle for a mental image, instead, specify the details of your expectations.
If you’re chasing numbers or metrics, be the quantitative whiz and establish checkpoints.
If you’re chasing a feeling, describe it! Maybe you don’t run to perform, but instead to simply move and enjoy the outdoors. If that’s the case, don’t worry about your metrics and learn to be present during your run.
Only then will you start enjoying the process and continue to accomplish the goals you set forth.
Remember, your Prime Athlete is your own construct. The characteristics of which describes the lifestyle that makes you happy and feel fulfilled. Many of us believe athletes succeed through performances that we can measure quantitatively. Maxing out a PR. Running their fastest 100m time. Adding wins in a tournament. But Life’s athletes, your Prime Athlete, gets to define how you succeed. Which means you decide (1) what performances makes you happy and (2) how the progress keeps joy in your life.
So don’t let anyone, even me, decide what you’re hunting.
You decide what keeps you active. What keeps you happy and fulfilled. I’m simply here to assist you. To help guide you in crafting a lifestyle that supports that pursuit and keeps you there.
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