Training partners. What are they good for?
Let me first start this article by saying no way, shape or form do I consider myself a good athlete.
I am average at best.
The last two months I have had the pleasure of being asked to train with other athletes who have competed at a high level in both the Crossfit Open and Crossfit Games Regionals
3 key points I learnt from training with regionals athletes.
- The first thing that I have noticed from training with these athletes has been “damn they are a hell of a lot fitter than me.”
To some people this might be intimidating, training with people who are lifting heavier, going faster and are technically better at all of the movements that you.
What I urge all of you to do is thrive off this idea of training with people fitter and stronger than you because that is how you progress as an athlete and as a person to become better.
Change your mindset.
- There have been numerous occasions while training with these athletes were the words...
“If I have to do another round, you’re doing another round and there is only one bar in this gym” have been said.
Coming into workouts training with these athletes thinking that I won’t be able to lift the weights set out in the workout but having that support and encouragement from them has seen an improvement in all areas of my training in such a short space of time has made me realise the importance of having a training partner.
- This article is not about me, it's about you.
Whether your training partners are regionals athletes or the new community of members you've signed up to be apart of, it doesn't matter, its all the same.
The only way you are going to see the results you are looking for is by coming into a box, meeting the coaches and athletes being held accountable and thriving from the environment created by CrossFit.
Roger Bannister’s ‘four-minute mile’ - what can we learn?
In 1952 Roger Bannister competed at the Helsinki Summer Olympics and broke a British Record for the 1500 metre run.
Although finishing fourth, this made him hungry to be the first person to finish a mile in under 4 minutes.
At the time many people challenged him to do this saying that it could not physically be done.
On the 6th of May 1954 Bannister went on to complete a mile run in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds proving that it could be done.
The record was broken again 46 days later proving that with the right mind set and training a preconceived idea can be broken.
The significance of this is that people then knew that it could be set and that although Bannister was seen to be better at the run, people pushed themselves harder and harder to break that record again and again.
This same idea can be passed onto any form of training.
Training with people fitter and stronger than you creates an atmosphere and idea that you yourself as an athlete in whatever sport you may chose, can push yourself and breakthrough your own personal barriers and goals.
Listen and learn.
I'll leave you with this.
Yes, it is true, the most capable athletes have their strengths and weaknesses.
Everyone has something you can learn from, but you have to be looking.
Listen, learn, ask questions and advice from your training partners and you will very quickly become a better athlete.
After reading this I encourage each of you to tag someone in this post who you have seen at your gym or box who you’ve thought can improve you as a person and athlete, go up to them and ask them “Hey, want to train sometime together?” and see where it goes.
I promise you that you will not regret it.
Article by Nick Bampton
- Junior Apprentice coach at Crossfit Creature Marrickville