Finishing things off

For years I’ve been politely suggesting to athletes in my squad, that they run 401m when we’re running 400m efforts on the track. Not 398m, as a lot like to do, slowing down over the last few metres. Same thing in the pool, I want 50m, not 48m and a walk into the end.

This may sound petty to some, but there is a strong psychological reason for completing what you start. It’s the difference to walking 20 steps through each aid station in an Ironman compared to running all the way. It works out to approximately 10-12 minutes over the marathon. But it’s worse than that, it’s giving in, it’s going soft on yourself. It’s choosing to be soft/easy on yourself for very little gain. It doesn’t hurt any more to jog through an aid station than it takes to walk a bit. On the track, it doesn’t save the “hurt” one bit, to start slowing down before the line. It does show a big crack in your psychological preparation for your next race.

When I read “Don’t Die With the Music in You” the story of Wayne Bennett, one of the greatest rugby league coaches to walk on this planet. In the first five pages I came across what the author described as Waynes greatest annoyance. His player’s slowing down before they had finished a fast effort. Running 48m instead of 50m. I had to smile to myself, athletes will take the easy way, if you don’t keep your eyes on them.

Another area where athletes of all sports can gain a lot, is in finishing off rehabilitation after an injury.

Too many athletes don’t do the little things to prevent injury. Core strength work, stretching, refuelling well, having massage, accupuncture, chiropractic adjustment and getting good hours of sleep. Yet when they become injured, they bleat like lost sheep. Why me, poor me, I’ll never get over this, I’ll never be ready for my race in time, why me?

The next step, the athlete is prepared to spend whatever it takes to get right. They’ll take anything the can get their hands on to help them get better faster. They’ll put the physio’s kids through private school with the number of visits they make. They’ll try every alternate therapy known to man, they’ll take herbs, they’ll do anything to get back into training.  

Once the symptoms have gone, they’re so happy to get back into training right where they left off. It’s often hard to hold them back for a week or two so they gradually take up the load.

Then this is where many make their biggest mistake.

When the symptoms have gone, it doesn’t mean the injury has totally healed or the muscle imbalance has been totally righted. It just means that the athlete is almost right.

Almost right is not going to handle a full work load. Almost right is the same as almost broken.

The reason the athlete has become injured is usually because of a weakness. The weakness may be lack of flexibility. It may be lack of core strength. It may be poor technique or a combination of all three.

Finish the treatment off. Bandaid repairs don’t last. Follow the treatmant through until the flexibility, strength or technique has been fully addressed. Even if you don’t consider the time losses and the setback in athlete development, consider the costs. Have you ever met a physio who’s kids did not go to a private school?