If you’re cruising through your training on cruise control, you’ve got untapped potential.

Just going through the motions is not your path to peak performance.

Being present in your training to achieve the desired purpose and physiological response is important, but so is your ability to stay connected to a {sometimes} monotonous and {often} uncomfortable mental experience. If you can understand the benefit of running consistently to create muscle memory in your body — one foot in front of the other — more forward lean from the ankles — shoulders relaxed — quick turnover — over and over again — then you can also see the need for a focused, present and deliberate brain around that same training session.

An intentional athlete plans their day ahead of time with structure and integrity. Because she creates time.

An intentional athlete knows the purpose of the training session and takes responsibility for getting the objective out of the session. Because purpose driven action is high quality action.

An intentional athlete don’t make excuses if circumstances change. Because she problem solves and gets it done.

An intentional athlete evaluates every training session. Because there is always something to learn.

An athlete on cruise control does none of that.

Think about it this way: your training plan is your sacred scripture and how you use it is your sacred tradition. The scripture is only as good as the tradition. The what (swimbikerun training) is only as good as the how (mindset) it’s implemented.

And the how it’s implemented includes who you are before, during and after.

Cruising = sloppy, not present, at the effect of the world, hoping for results
Intentional = focused, deliberate, resourceful, creating results

No more waiting to see what happens, “trying” and hoping for the best. When you’re willing to harness the power of intentionality, results are created. That’s the power of managing your mind. That’s the power of the 3lb mass between your ears.

Be the intentional athlete. Be the athlete who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to make it happen.