6 Overlooked Self-Leadership Lessons from Ironman Training

These often-overlooked self-leadership lessons from long-course triathlon make up my way of being as an athlete, as a partner, and as a leader. My success in my career has been driven by a mindset and flexible nervous system forged through my experiences as an introspective ultra-endurance athlete.

6 non-obvious ways to grow your capacity to tolerate discomfort and build your resilience: 

Lesson 01: Become a swimming pool finder extraordinaire. 

Training consistency is key when it comes to crossing the finish line. The overstimulating nature of our lives make consistency difficult. Open water swimming triggers unsettling fear and anxiety. Making practice even more critical for success.

I swam in TWENTY-SEVEN different pools and/or bodies of water in preparation for IM Alaska and the World Championship. At first the unpredictability or discomfort of being in a new place, with new people, new water and lots of unknowns was uncomfortable. I then realized it gave me an opportunity to embrace the very similar race-day-like feelings. Everything is unknown and I need to lean into the discomfort.

Ask yourself… Where might you intentionally practice stepping into an unfamiliar environment to cultivate adaptability and resilience?

Lesson 02: Accept. Empathize. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

YUP, I learned a slice of this thinking process from my colleague who’s a Marine. (Thanks Marines!) Step two is the most important: Empathize. Every time you stumble.

Each time you fall off your training routine you have two options. You can choose shame, or you can choose empathy. Choose empathy or moreover, self-compassion. You must speak to yourself with disciplined kindness.

In these moments, I name what worked well for and also what didn't go as planned. Then, I remind myself that I am learning the lessons I need to be successful. This builds your mental agility, essential for crossing the finish line.

Ask yourself… Which step in this process is most comfortable? Which step feels most challenging?

Lesson 03: Pick strategic training partnerships.

I think of these as my “Board of Training Advisors” What does that mean? Sometimes we need comfort and empathy as we grow. And sometimes we need people to challenge us. Learn to know what you need along the way and ask for it.

Balancing comfort and challenge also means finding diverse training partners. Some partners who match your pace/speed/skill AND other folks who are faster/stronger/more technical than you. Scary I know.

To do this you must step into discomfort with an invitation to grow as an athlete and human.

Ask yourself… Do I have a healthy balance of comfort and challenge with my current training community?

Lesson 04: Befriend your bicycle. I wish I would have done this earlier in my triathlon career. The time is worth the investment.  Become your bicycle’s best friend - learn everything about it. It is your responsibility to know how to build, maintain, and fix your bicycle. It should feel good to be with your best friend. So make sure the seat fits, the frame is sized correctly, and you tend to your best friend daily. This process is empowering. When we know how to take care of our bicycle it builds confidence in our ability to overcome challenges during race day, and guess what, in life overall.

Be honest… What tool(s) do you rely on daily that you could learn more about? Perhaps, your relationship with self is the "tool" you need to befriend and learn more about?

Lesson 05: Identify and eliminate barriers from the beginning.

This is your plan for success. This prepares your brain and nervous system to expect barriers and plan for them. Strategic foreshadowing. Two hours spent up front means hours and hours saved throughout the training process.

Grab pen and paper and inventory these four areas of your life:

• The relationship you have with yourself (your thinking and feeling)

• Time

• Relationship with others

• Any and all other obligations.

I use these questions: When making new habits, the most difficult part for me is…? 

What core relationships will be most helpful and supportive in achieving this dream of mine? Which relationships will detract from my success?

Be honest, what behavior consumes large amounts of time in my life without adding value? Can I eliminate it and replace it with something healthier? What obligations do I need to eliminate or change to be successful? 

Lesson 06: You can tolerate emotional discomfort and you are well resourced to do so. 

This is your reminder. I'm yelling it for those way in the back. Accept and know that achieving big things requires a process. And the process will bring tremendous amounts of discomfort.

Discomfort is not a threat. I'll say that again, discomfort does not mean you're in danger. It tells you where you are flexing and growing new resiliency muscles. Accept it and remind yourself that you have the coping mechanism, resources, and skills to navigate adversity like a boss.

Ask yourself... what coping mechanisms, skills, and resources might I rely on when I am facing emotional discomfort? 

If you're hoping to grow your stress tolerance muscle, check out my upcoming live workshops.

Do hard things, 

Your Introspective Athlete 
Corrie Weikle