Triathlon

What is the importance of training at the right paces and not going too fast?

The Power of Training Smart: Finding the Right Pace for Optimal Results

So I really, really believe in training at the right places and not going too fast, especially on those easy days. Just making sure that you're well within yourself conversation pays making sure you're recovering. So that on those hard days you can go super hard but even on the hard days like we at least in under my coach and with my training group we're never really racing each other. We're always finishing so that we could do one more and never really Getting to the part where like vomiting on the track or like, falling falling to pieces. I mean, they're certainly like super hard workouts and definitely ones where I can feel my heartbeat in my throat, but I just think it's so important to make sure that a you're like, doing what is right for you individually. So like a lot of the times when my easy runs, I'll make sure that I'm running with somebody who I know is compatible with my easy running pace and that means that like I'm relaxed I'm able to have A conversation, it doesn't feel stressful to try and like, stay there for a run or a ride or even a swim. So, I think it just adds to the longevity in the sport, and it has helped me to be a really consistent athlete because I'm always able to be there. And I never have to be recovering because I like went too hard on something in particular. Haven't recovered appropriately?

I think it's important to train at the right level and not go too fast, especially on easy days, so that on hard days you can still push yourself without getting to the point of exhaustion. This helps with longevity in the sport, and helps me be a consistent athlete since I'm always able to be there and never have to recover from going too hard.

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Training at the right paces and avoiding going too fast is incredibly important. It's crucial to prioritize recovery and ensure that you're well within your comfort zone, especially on easy training days. By maintaining a conversational pace and focusing on proper recovery, you can push harder on the more challenging training days without pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion or injury.

In my experience, training with a coach and a supportive training group has taught me the value of finishing strong but not racing each other. We aim to always have enough left in the tank to do one more repetition or set without pushing ourselves to the brink of physical breakdown.

Individualization is key. I make sure to run with someone who matches my easy running pace, allowing me to stay relaxed and engage in conversation without feeling stressed or strained. This approach contributes to the longevity of my athletic career and helps me maintain consistency. By avoiding excessive exertion and ensuring appropriate recovery, I can consistently show up for training without needing extended periods of recovery due to overexertion.

Overall, training at the right paces and avoiding going too fast has been instrumental in my success as an athlete. It promotes longevity, consistency, and prevents unnecessary setbacks caused by inadequate recovery.

Triathlete's Unexpected Journey from Father's Day Fun to Olympic Dreams

I got started in Triathlon. The first triathlon I ever did was right after I graduated high school, my dad had wanted to do a triathlon on Father's Day and I am one of three girls and I was just the daughter who ended up doing it with him. I was a swimmer and a runner at the time. So that was that was my first track line, but really not the start of my career. In any way it was just something fun to do with my dad. And then, I went to college at Syracuse University In division one and during that time, I got recruited by the USA Triathlon, Collegiate recruitment program and they were really the ones who introduced me to the professional side of triathlon. And when I started getting into it a lot more, seriously, that was I guess when I started understanding that this could possibly be a career in something, I could go to the Olympics in and yeah, do as my job, which has been really amazing.

I got started in triathlon when I did a race with my dad on Father's Day after high school. After that, USA Triathlon recruited me to become part of their collegiate program and this is when I started taking the sport more seriously and understanding it could be a career.

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I got started in triathlon when my dad wanted to do a triathlon on Father's Day right after I graduated high school. Being a swimmer and a runner at the time, I ended up doing it with him. It was a fun experience but not the beginning of my triathlon career.

When I went to college at Syracuse University, I got recruited by the USA Triathlon Collegiate recruitment program. They introduced me to the professional side of triathlon. As I started taking it more seriously, I realized that it could potentially be a career and a path to the Olympics. It has been an amazing journey since then.

How do you deal with the emotional stress that comes with being a professional athlete?

Pro athlete's secret weapon: a sports psychologist

Talk to a psychologist. Is about to freak out. And it wasn't something I regularly did throughout throughout the season and then after Rio, when I feel like I didn't deal with all the emotional stress. Super well, I really create started, creating a relationship with a sports psychologist. I reached out to the US so PC and kind of wrote out exactly what I thought my needs were and what my strengths and weaknesses were so that I could be matched with someone who would be a really Good fit for me personally, and not just like the first person who I came across and having having my relationship with my sports psychologist. I talked to her like, at least once a month, if not twice a month and a lot more during racing and I've learned is no matter if I'm feeling, like, I need to talk to her or not. I always, I always at least have the phone call and it can be, I mean, it's scheduled to be an hour but it could just be a 10 minute, 15 minute phone call, just her. Checking In but it just has helped me to I think be consistent and be level and just really always be on top of on top of things and never overwhelmed and just to have that support network. So that no matter what's going on in my career I'm able to have her as someone who's kind of gives me an outside opinion to maybe what family friends teammates and Coach might do. But definitely having that support network has helped deal with the emotional stress and And coming up with strategies and learning strategies to deal with it.

I created a relationship with a sports psychologist to help me deal with the emotional stress of my career. We talk at least once or twice a month, and it has helped me to stay consistent, stay level, and have an outside opinion on things.

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To deal with the emotional stress that comes with being a professional athlete, I highly recommend talking to a psychologist. Personally, I didn't regularly seek this support throughout the season, but after experiencing difficulties in handling the emotional stress leading up to and after the Rio Olympics, I decided to establish a relationship with a sports psychologist.

I reached out to the US Olympic Committee and provided them with a clear understanding of my needs, strengths, and weaknesses. This allowed me to be matched with a psychologist who would be a good fit for me personally, rather than just settling for the first available option. I maintain regular communication with my sports psychologist, speaking with her at least once a month, if not more frequently during racing periods.

Even if I don't feel an immediate need to talk, I still make sure to have scheduled phone calls. These calls can be as short as 10 or 15 minutes, just for her to check in on me. This consistency has helped me stay level-headed, manage stress, and prevent feeling overwhelmed. Having a support network like this allows me to receive an outside perspective, different from that of family, friends, teammates, and coaches. It has been instrumental in developing strategies to cope with emotional stress and ensuring I always have someone to turn to.

In summary, seeking the support of a psychologist and establishing a consistent relationship with them has been crucial in dealing with the emotional stress that comes with being a professional athlete. It provides me with valuable strategies and a reliable support network to navigate the challenges I face.

Which means more to you, team medal or individual medal from Tokyo? (Both are amazing)

Overcoming adversity: Tokyo's individual medal holds personal triumph

So it's a very tough question. What means more to me, the team metal or the individual metal from Tokyo, I would have to go with probably the individual based off of, just kind of the situations leading into the Olympics between my dad, passing away. And having pretty poor races and just a lot of uncertainty, kind of with my selection towards the Olympic. So after all that it was like A relief to go to kind of prove my selection and prove to myself that I was still capable of achieving all the things that I thought I was. And I also think that that individual metal led to being able to do so well in the in the team relay. So it gave me the confidence that I probably needed to just go into the team relay a little bit more relaxed and especially because I did a leadoff for the team relay and I'd never gone first before, even though I'd done relays before, I'd never actually been in the first position. So I just felt a lot more capable of that after knowing how well, the individual had gone. So, both are super meaningful, both are very different and it was amazing to be part of the inaugural makes team relay at the Olympics, which is just really cool to be part of that history. Hurry. So that's a very tough question but I will go with the individual and hope that that individual result really led to Also, helping with the team team result.

I would have to go with the individual metal from Tokyo because it gave me the confidence I needed to do well in the team relay, and it was meaningful to be part of the inaugural Olympic mixed team relay.

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Choosing between the team medal and the individual medal from Tokyo is a difficult decision. Both are amazing achievements. However, personally, the individual medal holds more meaning for me. The circumstances leading up to the Olympics, including the passing of my father and struggling with poor races, created a lot of uncertainty around my selection for the Games. So, the individual medal was a relief and a way to prove to myself that I was still capable of achieving my goals.

Additionally, the confidence gained from the individual medal translated into a strong performance in the team relay. It allowed me to approach the relay more relaxed, especially since I was leading off, a position I had never been in before. The individual medal gave me the belief in my abilities, which positively impacted the team result.

Both medals hold significant value, but the individual medal's personal significance and its impact on the team performance make it slightly more meaningful to me. It was also an incredible experience to be part of the inaugural mixed team relay at the Olympics, contributing to the historical significance of the event.

Hi Katie! Tell people about your background, expertise, and how you can help.

Meet Katie: World Champion, Olympian, and Expert Ready to Answer Your Questions!

I am Katie's in Ferris, 2019 world champion and two-time medalist in two-time Olympian, so ask me any question.

What would you say is the most important lesson you have learned from your experience as a world champion and Olympian?

The most important lesson I have learned is to never give up and always keep pushing yourself. Success doesn't come overnight, it takes hard work, dedication, and resilience. No matter what setbacks or failures come your way, you must stay focused on your goal and keep striving to reach it.

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