Here's my full response:
Firstly, I'd have to ask why you feel the need to train to your edge, for what reason? Is it a part of your short or long-term goals? And what are you training for? Most true top athletes don't train to their edge time and again. They go through waves and cycles according to when they need to peak for their event. If you want to train to your edge, which to my coaching ears sounds like burnout, which translates to failure, I'd say your headed down the wrong path. Neurologically, you are setting yourself up for failure every time you step up to the bar, bell, track, or whatever you're training. Unless you're an elite athlete that needs to learn to train through fatigue and failure, there's no need in beating yourself up and giving yourself a complex.
Secondly, do you know what your edge is? Most people train for the sake of training. I mentioned goals earlier. Everyone should have progressive, attainable goals. If you don't know where your edge is, and you want to train to that as your goal, you may need to get outside help. Even top athletes have coaches. Invest a little money in a good, educated, experienced coach so that you can safely, effectively, and efficiently move toward finding your individual edge. Trying to go at it alone may set you up for injury, which will only end up setting you back time and again.
If you don't train to your edge with every session, you may be doing yourself a favor in the long run! You won't establish a mental or physical pattern of failure, you'll avoid injury, you'll keep moving, and keep feeling great! The psychological connection to your physical abilities is incredibly under-rated. Train smart, set reasonable time-based goals, know your limits so you don't injure yourself, and invest in a good coach to help you on your journey.
Firstly, I'd have to ask why you feel the need to train to your edge, for what reason? Is it a part of your short or long-term goals? And what are you training for? Most true top athletes don't train to their edge time and again. They go through waves and cycles according to when they need to peak for their event. If you want to train to your edge, which to my coaching ears sounds like burnout, which translates to failure, I'd say your headed down the wrong path. Neurologically, you are setting yourself up for failure every time you step up to the bar, bell, track, or whatever you're training. Unless you're an elite athlete that needs to learn to train through fatigue and failure, there's no need in beating yourself up and giving yourself a complex.
Secondly, do you know what your edge is? Most people train for the sake of training. I mentioned goals earlier. Everyone should have progressive, attainable goals. If you don't know where your edge is, and you want to train to that as your goal, you may need to get outside help. Even top athletes have coaches. Invest a little money in a good, educated, experienced coach so that you can safely, effectively, and efficiently move toward finding your individual edge. Trying to go at it alone may set you up for injury, which will only end up setting you back time and again.
If you don't train to your edge with every session, you may be doing yourself a favor in the long run! You won't establish a mental or physical pattern of failure, you'll avoid injury, you'll keep moving, and keep feeling great! The psychological connection to your physical abilities is incredibly under-rated. Train smart, set reasonable time-based goals, know your limits so you don't injure yourself, and invest in a good coach to help you on your journey.
1 comment:
This post was so helpful to me. I find myself overtrained far too often. I think it's because I used to believe so strongly in "calories in, calories out," that I would strive to go to my edge during almost every workout session
I've been taking the last several weeks to rethink my goals (weight-loss being one of them) and fine-tune my approach to training. It truly is a learning experience, isn't it?
=)
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