Articles

Why ask why?

We are curious be nature. We’re socialized to get answers; create solutions. The problem is this; sometimes we never get to know why. There is no known answer. There is of course a reason for everything. Our jobs are to figure out what that reason is. Then, we need to act on our understanding. Hopefully, we can reduce or eliminate the bad things that happen (like injuries) and increase the occurrences of good things (personal records).

I pride myself on being able to get answers, find solutions for people. I do it as a consultant and I do it as a coach. It’s my job. It’s my nature. I find it exceedingly frustrating not to figure out why something happened or find a solution.

To diagnose problems I’m sure many of you notice there is a pattern to what we ask an athlete.

• How old are your shoes (change them every 4 months OR 400 miles)?
• Did you change any workout routines (cross-training, weights, stretching, etc.)?
• Did you recently introduce a new phase of training (hills, speed, etc.)?
• Have you changed the terrain or surface you train on (trails, grass, pavement, etc.)?
• Did you increase you mileage recently (number one cause of injuries is mileage)?

These are problem-based inquiries. The lost opportunity for most athletes is to ask similar questions to diagnose reasons you did well! We tend to go along our merry way without tuning in to what makes it merry. This is a mistake. The key to improvement, is noting patterns that work. It steers you in the right direction and offers valuable input to coaching. We need to learn from the past in order to build for the future.

A workout log is one tool you can use to track these elements. You do not need to write a tome on each workout. You do not need superfluous information. Keep it basic and relevant to performance. Often, using abbreviations and scales are very helpful. Here are important elements to include.

• Distance run, biked, swam
• Pace or paces (include interval splits)
• Subjective feeling for workout or even general mood (many scales available)
• Shoe purchase date/start of use (I started just writing the date on the shoe because I forget)
• Tightness, aches or pains (Be specific on this! Note: location, intensity, nature and persistence)
• Life events (overall stress is one predictor of incidence and severity of injuries)
• All other information is optional. Track it if you wish.

I have logged (paper and electronic) every run I have been on since 1971. It’s just a habit now. It’s morphed over time. I used to make it more like a diary entry. Now, it’s more data (Excel) with sparse, pointed comments. In any case, as a result, I can tell you exactly what gets me injured and the key elements of my personal record runs.

We need to reflect upon our never ending pursuit of going farther faster.

• Your body talks to you. Do you know your body’s language?
• Are you listening to what your body is telling you?
• Are you acting on what you hear your body is telling you?
• Are you telling your coach?

There is a fun scene in the movie Jerry Maguire in which he pleads with his athlete – “Help me, help you!” Even the best coaches aren’t so good without accurate information; so help us help you.

If you do not learn this you will repeat past failures, performance plateaus, or you will believe you are just a victim of circumstances.

It’s true, sometimes we will never know why something happened. But, it shouldn’t stop us from asking questions and seeking answers. Through the good the bad and the ugly; logged or not; athletes will find the inspiration and strength to go on.