The Spokes of the Wheel

So here’s the deal with the wheel. Listed below are the six spokes to getting the most out of yourself in sports, each with a little list of topics that fall within that subject.

Every week or so, I’ll pick one of these topics and brood mysteriously over it in my apartment for a few days, refusing to change clothes or shower until I find my inspiration to write. And then I’ll type feverishly into the night and post my thoughts on this webpage, whereby you, as a reader, will enthusiastically write oceans of comments about my blog, giving me so many opinions and questions that I am inspired to start the whole cycle over again and go back to brooding mysteriously.

1. Training
Components: Mileage, hills, threshold, intervals, etc.
Recovery/Adaptation (the importance of rest and sleep)
Setting goals
Seeing the big picture
Trusting your plan
More than one way to skin a cat
Common Pitfalls

2. Competing
Your racing style (maximize your strengths)
Developing Versatility
“You race the way you train” (how training translates to racing)
Nerves, Superstitions (the good, the bad, and the ugly)
Common Pitfalls

3. Social Balance
School, Friends, how to have it all
Sacrifice (how much is too much?)
Why having something else is important
Social Support Network
Common Pitfalls

4. Nutrition
Athletes v. Sedentary People (Say hello to your new eating habits)
Meal Timing (Pre, During, Post Workout)
Emphasis on Recovery
Eating to Run v. Running to Eat

5. Communication
The coach/athlete relationship
Learning to speak the language of your own body
The concept of integrity: “do the things you say you are going to do”
Handling difficult team situations
Common Pitfalls

6. The Mind
Understanding Confidence (building it and maintaining it)
Fears and Freak Outs
Visualization
Goal Setting (creating a “window of acceptability”)
Common Pitfalls

Disclaimer:
Remember, I may be a professional athlete and all, but in my opinion, there are no true “experts” in sports. Hard-core athletes and sports-geeks like us enjoy getting deep with our sport once in a while, and a blog is a great way to record and collect thoughts to use as a resource. So don’t be afraid to tell me I’m nuts, or to post a comment with a totally different opinion…and don’t be surprised if I passionately disagree with you ☺.

Got it? Good!

Until next time, I’ll be brooding…
-L.