What's your motivation?

[Guest]

Now this may seem a slightly odd topic for the coaching section. But in these days where even yer gran's dog is texting away...

I "overheard" a youthful nopesport contributer on the phone during my daily commute the other day, following the squad announcements. Its not that the person in question wasn't discrete, I'm sure no one else on the train sussed what they were talking about, but just one mention of a certain name made it all clear.

So to the person on the 5.30 QS-Wav the other friday - that's what he always says. Frankly if your motivation to get out and train in the pishing wet disgusting scottish weather over the winter is more to do with wanting to visit Japan than anything else, who cares? If it gets you out, that's all that matters. Don't listen to those who try to say your motiviation must be clear. Yes, you need to set some challenging but achievable goals, but your motivation is a completly personal thing. If envisgaing a tea garden or whatever is what makes you train then just go for it.....

[Guest]

I think I know who you might be talking about. As I'm sure a lot of people do - it wasn't sooo cryptic! And they're just trying to work out their goals. But that certainly isn't the only motivation for training, motivation is a lot stronger than that, it is just a complicating factor in deciding what to aim for over the next 3 years. It might be better to look beyond Japan and just go there for a holiday one day instead! But thanks for your advice. it's very sad but being so busy, dead train time is a good chance to make important phone calls. I'll check the carriage out for eager ears next time!

[J.Tullster]

I've got a poster on my wall that has Muhammad Ali on it, and a quote saying:

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights"

Don't know about anyone else, but that sends a shiver down my spine every time I read it, and it motivates me to get my ass outside and train hard.

[harry]

boxing stuff is pretty inspiring. "tubby" Ben Akers and I used to go training with some boxers at a low down dirty boxing gym in the depths of one of the nastier parts of leeds. we didn't spar but sometimes still came away with bleeding knuckles. all around the ring and punchbag area there were inspiring pictures of the great boxing legends.. and rocky. and signs saying things like "lazy in the gym, lose in the ring" "fail to prepare, prepare to fail." every time i walked into that big old room and started putting on my wraps it sent a shiver down my spine. usually the thought of the session ahead, probably the toughest circuits session i've come across. i thought orienteers trained hard but boxers are hardcore.

[fish]

a good story about boxing training.

kostya tzu has started coaching.
He won't let his boxers fight until...

In training they've worked so hard that they're sick from the lactate once ... and get up and start again ... and then sick once more ... and get up and start again ... and are sick once more ... this time if they get up ready to train - they're ready to fight.

It might be a touch anecdotal, but from what I've seen of interviews with Kostya I can almost believe it!

[Rich]

i thought orienteers trained hard but boxers are hardcore.

Put the boxers in front of a patch of brambles up a hill in the snow and tell them to run through them. Bet there not so hardcore then. Went for a run in the snow last night, great fun! My motivation? I not sure I just enjoy it.

[harry]

patch of brambles eh? theives, blidworth or sherwood pines? hehe nice to run through heather instead of brambles. mind you where is this hill you speak of?

[Scotia]

Tell boxers to come and join our interval session then see who is the tough guy....

[Godders]

They used to jog round the inside lane of the track at Meadowbank. But not for very long with Kitch coming up behind them at full speed

[Rich]

theives, blidworth or sherwood pines?

Your only jealous, I know you miss them really.

[Becks]

I went for a long beast outside the ring road and over some muddy muddy fields today.

I can say that that was more than a motivation in itself - looking down on Oxford glinting in the sunlight. Beautiful.

I used to hate running with a passion. I do seem to be turning into one though, rather worryingly. XC Varsity Match next weekend - yikes!

[little slave]

i had been injured for 5 month this year, my motivation was to go out in the nature...running threw the deepest valleys, climbing up the biggest hills and mistakes at easy controls....the motivation is the nature and the people you meet at competition...thats all....and in orienteering, every mofo could get a top elite runner!

just go for it!

[mharky]

Scott>>> lets put you in the ring and see how hardcore you are...

Training motivation: whatever gets you round the last interval, up the last hill, whatever takes you to the 3rd beep you know...

but Racing motivation has got to be somthing different, you must take a good aproach to this. If for example your motivation is to beat somone, and you do it, but only cozs they had the worst run in history ever, then you havnt exactly excelled in your performance. but is that a goal??? hmm. i think goals and motivation are very closely linked, infact, in races they are almost the same thing... i have non idea what im trying to say with this. oh well

do it for the love

[harry]

but Racing motivation has got to be somthing different, you must take a good aproach to this. If for example your motivation is to beat somone, and you do it, but only cozs they had the worst run in history ever, then you havnt exactly excelled in your performance.

EXACTLY! It's not about being win-lose. It's about mastery.

Motivation should come from wanting to be a masterful orienteer. But it probably helps to want to beat people too. Especially when it's freezing cold outside and peeing with rain and it's christmas day and you can't decide whether to do a second session before christmas lunch. hehe.

[distracted]

Especially when it's freezing cold outside and peeing with rain and it's christmas day and you can't decide whether to do a second session before christmas lunch. hehe.

surely you can take 1 day a year off