If you crushed all your cycling objectives in 2023, here’s a written excuse to skip this article.
If you struggled to train consistently or otherwise came up short in your goals, I hope to offer a fresh perspective on improving in 2024.
SMART
The traditional cycling approach to planning a season is to begin with goals that are “SMART”. The “SMART” acronym stands for goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound [1].
While SMART can help to inspire well-designed cycling goals, it’s wiser to center your training around an identity as an athlete [2].
Athlete
The dictionary defines an athlete as such:
“a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise”.
My definition of “athlete” is a bit different:
“a disciplined person who is striving to maximize their potential in sports and other forms of physical exercise”
Ultimately, the striving to discover your potential makes you an athlete, not simply the outcome of proficiency.
Why all the words on screen describing what it means to be an “athlete”?
Clarify
Because anchoring our training approach to an identity as an athlete helps clarify the habits/processes necessary to achieve our desired goals.
Author James Clear says it best [2].
“With outcome-based habits, the focus is on what you want to achieve. With identity-based habits, the focus is on who you wish to become.”
Ride Basic: A Minimalist Guide to Maximize Your Cycling
Whether you’re a beginner eager to complete your first fondo, or a seasoned pro aiming to refresh the foundational principles of long-term cycling success, this time-efficient guide offers invaluable insights into why and how you can Ride Basic.
An Identity
Here are five examples of how identifying as an “athlete” can direct your daily choices into powerful habits that serve your most important cycling goals. An athlete:
- Prioritizes long-term thinking over instant gratification
- Thinks critically about the type and quantity of fuel they put in their body
- Prioritizes sleep as a primary component of training
- Practices moderation more often than indulgence
- Respects the connection between mind and body
If you want to ride better in the upcoming year, begin with a renewed focus on what it means to be an athlete.
References
- Bjerke, M.B. and R. Renger, Being smart about writing SMART objectives. Evaluation and Program Planning, 2017. 61: p. 125-127.
- Clear, J., ATOMIC HABITS : an easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones. 2019, [Place of publication not identified]: RANDOM House BUSINESS.