Go Faster

It's inevitable if you are training regularly. Sooner or later, usually sooner, you reach a plateau in your performance. Weeks or months go by with no change in speed or endurance. Workouts become humdrum and "comfortable". There is only one way out of this rut. Something has to change. The easiest thing to change is the speed. Somewhere in your workout something has to go faster. It's that simple. To go faster, go faster.

This happens with elite athletes, too. Don't feel bad about it, especially if you are working out alone, being your own coach. The major difference is that those athletes usually work under the watchful eye of an experienced coach. Coaches of elite athletes are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to progress and tend to constantly ask for just that little bit more to consolidate gains or to make the next leap in performance. Even at that these athletes experience plateaus for as many reasons as there are athletes. It is not unusual and neither is the solution to the problem, usually.

If you are on a self-directed program spotting the problem, admitting it to yourself and fixing it are a little more difficult. That doesn't mean it is an insurmountable problem. It does however require a different mindset from you, the athlete. It may benefit from discussion with other experienced athletes. It may require sharing on a site like this or having a cooperative coach or more experienced athlete "have a look". You could even get creative and film yourself for analysis. This is really an opportunity to have some fun.

The thing to keep in mind is that there is help everywhere, even if it's self-help. Technology today makes it an exercise in imagination. The biggest problem, once there is an effort to get help, is that there is often too much information. Learn the basic technical principles underlying your activity. Make sure the solutions you adopt are in line with what you know. Try to ask questions that take sound technique into account. Listen with a technically attuned ear. Look for solutions that will work for you.

Some of what you hear will not be for you. It may be too advanced, not advanced enough or just plain hokum. Learn the proper mechanics for what you are doing and the basic principles of physical conditioning (lots of information available). Make sure what you adopt is "real world stuff". Unfortunately, there is lots of misinformation out there, too.

If you can't sort out what should work for you get advice from people who should know. You could always come someplace like this where someone with some experience and qualifications can help you sort the wheat from the chaff. Good hunting.