Training volume, focus and dedication: The Olympic spectator's take-away.

There is no doubt that these athletes put in just crazy time getting prepared and usually it is over many years.  Most of us can't fathom training for something for 10 or 15 years to get to one event in their whole life that becomes the focus point for all this time.  

Then to have a bad day.....   

There's no doubt their will to succeed sets them apart from the rest.  I sat and watched all of them with awe.

Still, I read this forum(and others) and see a lot of "regular folk" asking, "Can I do more?" or "What details should I pay attention to?"  A lot of the times they're asking the right questions, but don't always get the best answers. 

Also, plain old hard work isn't nearly as fun as buying new gear for my bike!

Outside Magazine had a cover article about the Fittest Real Athletes in the country. People who work full time 9-5 and still compete quite well in their respective sports. One guy was a triathlete who had placed 45th(I think) in Kona and was some kind of engineer(I think). It was interesting to read about them.

Edit: Here's the link to their web page http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/200809/fittest-real-athlet...

Edited by JoshR 2008-08-24 12:35 PM

Thomas Demerly - 2008-08-23 11:47 PM Good on ya. Whitfield's performance was an inspiration. Sometimes when I'm having trouble getting out the door I tell myself, "This is what you do. Do what you do..." It usually works...

Tom,

That is a good quote.  It reminds me of something I heard some champion saying that training when one wants to is good, but training when one does not want to is what makes a real difference in one's success.