Think like a Bumblebee, Train like a horse

“Think like a Bumblebee, Train like a horse.”

I wrote this post on our team site, but thought I'd add it here:

I was digging through some un-packed boxes last night and I ran across Joel Friel’s Triathlete Training Bible. I haven’t looked at the book in 2-3 years. As I opened it up and started jumping around the sections, I couldn’t put it down. I found lots of good nuggets in there I had completely forgotten about. So simple really. Not sure why I always try to make things more complicated.

It’s sort of funny, over the years I feel like I’ve been a pretty good “student” in learning as much as I could about the science and art in regards to training for endurance sports. There’s so much information out there. Some good, some not so much. But really, I’m no judge. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that as much “science” is out there on how to train to improve, there’s still a variety (the art) of ways to skin the cat. But, all that aside, if you had to boil it down to very simple recipe to success, keeping in mind this quote may help get you there.

I’ll try to paraphrase the meaning:

NASA scientists were bewildered at how a Bumblebee can fly? Small wings for a seemingly oversized body, nowhere close to being aerodynamic. This MUST require a study to figure this out! Hypotheses were drafted. Tests conducted. Conclusions were reached. A Bumblebee can’t fly!!! But nobody told the Bumblebee!!! It just keeps flying without any knowledge it’s not supposed to be able to fly.

Then comes along the race horse. Race horses don’t think for themselves when they train. They follow a periodized training regiment much like we do. Everything is managed under the utmost care down to the food they eat, how long they train and the intensity at which they train. Applied training science at its best. They know no better. Sure they get excited when race day arrives because they understand it’s their freedom to run. They don’t look at the other horse’s quads and care how big they are or how fit the other horses look.

What does this mean to me? Well, if I think like a Bumblebee, I will be able to achieve anything my mind believes. I don’t really care or need to hear if others doubt my ability. No preconceptions on what is achievable, no matter how absurd it sounds when I set a goal. The only thing holding me back is my belief in myself.

If I train like a horse, I’m sticking to the plan. NO second guessing. NO tossing the plan aside when things aren’t going as expected. If I’m consistent and progressively getting stronger, there’s no need to jump ahead. It may provide a short term boost but at the expense of the long term goal(s). When I get to the starting line of a race, I need to put the bad energy aside and instill faith in myself that I’ve done everything right in training. I’m just as or more prepared than anyone else. Remain patient, follow the plan, don’t worry about daily power numbers, it’s the big picture that counts.

Love it.