I Wrote These Training and Racing Principles 15 Years Ago. They Still Work

Beth takes over hosting duties from Santa Barbara and pulls out a list of training and racing principles I wrote about 15 years ago. The catch is I’m not allowed to look at them. So we go through the big ones and I react in real time, seeing which ideas have genuinely stood the test of time, what I’d tweak with today’s experience, and what still matters most for age group athletes who want to perform well, stay healthy, and enjoy the process.

We talk about choosing races that suit you (not your ego), understanding the course early, and setting realistic expectations so you don’t torch yourself chasing a fantasy. We dig into the boring stuff that works: consistency over hero sessions, sensible progression, and training specifically for the event you’ve entered. And we cover race day reality: the perfect race almost never happens, so you’d better have a Plan B and a calm head.

 

4–5 key bullet points

• Why your support team at home matters more than your latest gadget
• How to choose races that fit your strengths and lifestyle, and learn the course early
• The principles that stood the test of time: consistency first, progression without ego, and specificity that makes sense
• Stress is cumulative, so recovery is not optional, it’s training
• Race day reality: expect chaos, define success properly, and use Plan B thinking

3 key takeaways

1. Pick the right target: choose races and goals that suit you, and learn the course early so you can prepare properly
2. Win the boring weeks: consistent, repeatable training beats occasional brilliance every time
3. Recover and adapt: stress adds up, recovery is non negotiable, and flexibility on race day is a skill
4.  

Quote of the episode

“Consistency is the key to success. Make the priority to stay healthy and uninjured.”

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