6 tips for crushing your next workout and nailing the ‘perfect’ training session

Triathletes are perfectionists, always chasing big goals and hoping to get the best out of ourselves. While we hope to find perfection on race day, it’s also nice to reach it in training. This is much easier said than done, and while you can never guarantee that you’ll hit the perfect training session, there are a few ways you can give yourself the best shot at it.

Sleep, sleep, sleep!

If you don’t sleep well, you won’t perform well. It’s as simple as that. Nailing down a solid sleep pattern will help you get the best results in training, and if you can make getting enough sleep a habit, it will help you come race season.

Fuel well

If you have a workout in the morning, be sure to get some sort of fuel in you, even if it’s just a small snack. If you’re working out later in the day, be sure to eat well all day, not just the hour or two before your training session. This is a mistake lots of people make, as they think that if they fuel just before they exercise they will be fine. Sure, that meal or snack before the workout will give you a boost, but to get the most out of yourself, you need to spend the whole day fuelling properly.

Hydrate well

Just like with fuel, you need to make sure you hydrate well all day long. Carry a bottle with you and sip throughout the day. Then, when you’re working out, take it with you so you can keep that hydration level throughout the entire session.

Warm up

We get it, the warmup is not fun to do, but it is so important. It will get your body ready for a hard effort, giving you the best shot at achieving a perfect workout. Plus, warming up will go a long way in preventing injuries. Do you know when it’s impossible to nail the perfect workout? When you’re hurt and unable to train at all. Do the warmup, don’t get hurt, and you’ll have great sessions.

Picture your goal

Get a clear image of what you want to get out of the workout. Imagine yourself reaching that goal and think of what it will take to get there. Let’s say you’re in the pool and hoping to hit 1:30 for a series of 100 metre repeats. Break it down to 50s and 25s. You’ll need to hit the wall at 45 seconds for the 50s, 22.5 seconds for each 25. Think about how that will feel, focus on making good turns, and picture yourself finishing strong. Imagining the workout will help you execute when you’re in it.

Let it go

As much as you want perfection, you have to remind yourself that the perfect workout is pretty unachievable. You should picture the perfect workout beforehand, but when you’re actually doing it, forget perfection and focus instead on giving whatever you have in that moment. It might not be “perfect,” but if you finish the workout knowing that you gave your all, you can be proud of your effort.