Triathlon

Do you think your mindset towards triathlon has changed over the years as you've gained more experience? If so, how?

Triathlon Mindset: Embracing the Journey and Long-Term Progress

Yeah, my biggest change in mindset over the years is, like I've said before, focusing on the daily enjoyment, daily mastery, focusing on the details day to day, and knowing that progress isn't a matter of day to day progress, week to week, or even month to month, but season to season. It can be normal to have some lulls or plateaus for a full season or full year, sometimes even two years, but that doesn't mean we accept that. We look at, and reflect over the last year, see what we can adjust or change, and then continue progressing towards the next steps and your goals in triathlon. So I think when it comes down to it, we just really have to enjoy and love the process.

Focus on the daily enjoyment, daily mastery and details, and understand that progress is based over a season instead of week to week or month to month. Also, enjoy and love the process.

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Yes, my mindset towards triathlon has indeed changed over the years as I've gained more experience. The biggest shift has been towards focusing on daily enjoyment and mastery, paying attention to the details each day. I've realized that progress in triathlon isn't always linear or immediate; it occurs over the course of seasons. It's not uncommon to experience lulls or plateaus that can last for a whole season or even a year or two. However, I don't simply accept these periods of stagnation. Instead, I take the time to reflect on the past year, identify areas that can be adjusted or improved, and then continue working towards my goals in triathlon. Ultimately, what matters most is finding joy and love in the process itself.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by focusing on daily mastery of the sport and yourself?

Daily Mastery: The Key to Success in Sports

Hi, yes, when I say focus on daily mastery, that means focusing on the details every single day over focusing on the outcome. That can be for a coach or for an athlete. If I'm as a coach obsessed about just getting results, getting results, getting results, that's going to carry over into what the athlete thinks, what the athlete expects the coach to expect from races is that they don't care about them as an individual, but they just care about them to perform and they're just a number. So the athlete feeling like they're not just a number, but a person is part of that mastery. And that leads to the athlete really focusing on the details that do matter versus the details that don't matter, which is straight up one, one result or one single training day. What matters is they're focusing on getting their sleep better, focusing on eating right, focusing on training at their correct intensities, focusing on recovery, focusing on being happy and making the sport a fun process. That is what leads to mastery. That leads what, what leads to enjoyment and, and making the sport a part of your life and a good part of your life rather than a miserable part of your life.

When I say focus on daily mastery, I mean focusing on the details of everyday over focusing on the outcome. This includes things like getting enough sleep, eating right, training at correct intensities, recovery, and making the sport enjoyable. These details can lead to mastering the sport and enjoying it as part of your life.

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When I talk about focusing on daily mastery, it means prioritizing the small details every day instead of solely fixating on the end result. This applies to both coaches and athletes. If a coach is solely obsessed with achieving results, it can convey to the athlete that they are just a number, rather than an individual. To foster mastery, it's important for athletes to feel valued as people and not just performers. This mindset allows athletes to concentrate on the details that truly matter, such as optimizing sleep, nutrition, training intensity, and recovery. It also involves finding happiness and enjoyment in the sport, making it a positive and fulfilling part of their lives rather than a source of misery. Ultimately, this focus on daily mastery leads to overall improvement, personal growth, and a healthier relationship with the sport.

Wesley Johnson answers your Triathlon questions. See all the advice Wesley Johnson has and get answers to your own Triathlon questions.

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2019 USOPC and USAT Paralympic Coach of the year, 2021 USA Triathlon Development Coach of the Year, Level III USA Triathlon Coach, Head Triathlon Coach of University of Arizona  and Balanced Art Multisport 