Showing category "Thoughts" (Show all posts)

Priorities - More on Season Planning

Posted by Tom Room on Thursday, March 31, 2011, In : Thoughts

I felt good about the blog I wrote a while back about How to Plan a Season / The Problem with being SMART but when it came to plan my own season it became clear that I was missing something as much to my frustration I was struggling to enact my own philosophy;

S = Suffering
W = Wild Ambition
E = Exceeding Limits
A = Achievable (still important, just not that important)
T = Time Frame
E = Exciting
D = Daring

I found that my own season plans were not exciting, nor daring and they did not strike me as a...
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The problem with being SMART

Posted by Tom Room on Sunday, January 23, 2011, In : Thoughts

There are a few key phrases associated with goal setting; process goals, outcome goals and SMART goals. The 3 are interlinked in that you first decide upon outcome goals for the season. You then put in process goals (training/coaching and race tactics) to achieve this. All the time, you are told to make sure that these goals are SMART to ensure that they are achieved.

SMART Goals

Are described as;

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Time frame

The premise being that if y...
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World Triathlon Corporation announces Budget Cuts and a new Early Access Program

Posted by Tom Room on Thursday, November 11, 2010, In : Thoughts

Following the recent announcement and prompt rescinding of the Ironman Access Program, which invited athletes to pay $1,000 for early registration to all Ironman events (entry fee not included), budget cuts have followed...

Below is a picture of the sandcastle at the 70.3 Ironman World Championships in Clearwater in 2008;

and the 2009 sandcastle.....

and the 2010 sandcastle....... (photo copyright Ramon Serrano)

A statement from the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), owners of Ironman, explained...
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The Pro Triathlete Dilemma (ii) - how many races is too many?

Posted by Tom Room on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, In : Thoughts

What I Decided

Race 3 was a target race for the year being a half ironman. The added incentive was that my wetsuit sponsor TRI 11 is a German company. I fancied my chances of leading out the swim in the race, Challenge Walchsee, just over the boarder. Getting this relatively new company good TV coverage was a priority as they have been very good to me and I wanted to justify their investment.....and help retain it for next year. So race 3 is a definite.

Race 2 was part of a series I was ...
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The Pro Triathlete Dilemma (I) - How much is money worth?

Posted by Tom Room on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, In : Thoughts

What is worth more - winning money in a smaller race VS finishing position in a big race ?

Well, obviously they are both important. Money is important, 'it can be exchanged for good or services' (H. Simpson) which most people, myself have included have need of....cakes and keeping Isaac in working order. A good finish (top 10) in a big race - Challenge Series or 70.3 looks more impressive but when costs are taken into account, you may often still finish the race with a deficit in your wallet.

T...
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3 Recent Good Happenings in the Triathlon World

Posted by Tom Room on Monday, August 30, 2010, In : Thoughts

Entrepreneurship - Have a look here

(i) A friend of mine, Alex Lewis, pitched on Dragon's Den a few weeks ago and successfully in obtaining the money he needed to get his awesome idea up to speed.

A couple of years ago I raced the British National Championships, in March, in torrential rain and gales on a Welsh hillside. Out of the 25 or so athletes I think everyone started the ten lap bike. Alex was one of the smart ones who dropped out after a lap or two. I was too stubborn and rode on for 7...
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