Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Sun Tzu
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Very interesting and accurate quote
Saw this quote on the Team TBB website, the text is not signed, I wonder who wrote it...
"Great efforts are needed to match great dreams. The girls have worked that out. The guys on the other hand, well they always seem to take a little longer to figure it out. The ‘don't train hard but smart’ brigade of conmen seem to resonate more on the boys. Women on the other hand tend to be able to see straight through that bullshit."
Totally nailed it.
"Great efforts are needed to match great dreams. The girls have worked that out. The guys on the other hand, well they always seem to take a little longer to figure it out. The ‘don't train hard but smart’ brigade of conmen seem to resonate more on the boys. Women on the other hand tend to be able to see straight through that bullshit."
Totally nailed it.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Squad FAQ
It's been one week now that I publicly announced the squad formation and reception has been great. I've received inquires about the squad from more than 30 athletes, and around 10 have sent in complete applications. We're still 2 weeks from the deadline to turn in applications, so keep them coming!
Since I've gotten many questions regarding the squad, I thought I would publish a FAQ. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at pstriathlon@gmail.com
Professional Triathlon Training Squad
- presented by pstriathlon.com
What is it?
A new-concept professional triathlon squad. Under my direction, this new squad offers both emerging and established elite triathletes a high-level training squad operating mainly in North America
What is its mission?
The mission of the squad is to develop elite triathletes capable of competing successfully at international level. Triathlon is a sport where athletes don’t reach their full potential and race their best until several years after starting to race at the professional level. Therefore, the purpose of this program is to provide a comprehensive, positive and supportive environment that prepares emerging elite triathletes for their highest performance ability in the coming years. Toward that end, the program provides an optimal training environment as well as the guidance necessary to gradually yet progressively develop the skills required for world-class performances in triathlon.
Who is Coach Paulo Sousa?
I am a certified triathlon coach who has the unique ability to combine the science of endurance training with the art of real-world coaching. A student of the sport for close to 15 years, I continue to apply advances in sports science to his training programs. My influences include “Doc” Counsilman, Jan Olbrecht, Tim Noakes, Jack Daniels, Brett Sutton and Joel Filliol.
What are the core values of the squad?
- Commitment to excellence
- Loyalty and honesty
- Long-term approach to high performance
- Stability of methods and technical approaches
What are the basic attributes athletes belonging to the squad need to possess?
- Ability to recognize challenge and adjust mentally and physically to positively face the challenge
- Enjoy competing with yourself and others
- See the benefit of a competitive environment to personal development
- See obstacles as a necessary and useful part of the learning process
- Display initiative, self responsibility and independence in quest for progression
- Ability to prioritize lifestyle to encompass all the work needed to progress
- Acceptance of the different forms and tools that offer feedback
- Ability to turn negative criticism into a positive learning tool
- “Be the best you can be, everyday”
What is the process to join the squad?
Selection for the squad will be composed of two phases:
Phase 1 – Application to join the squad (October 2010).
Phase 2 – Evaluation after attending a trial training camp (January 2011).
Phase 1? What is that?
Applications for Phase 1 of the project are open until October 31st, 2010. Just send an email to pstriathlon@gmail.com with your athletic resume and a statement on your motivation to join the squad. All athletes applying to the squad will receive a reply, stating their acceptance or not into the squad. The athletes selected for Phase 2 will be announced on November 15th.
What if I go through to Phase 2?
Those athletes will attend a two-week training camp in Las Cruces, NM in January 2011. At the camp, the athletes will be evaluated as to their potential to be part of the squad in 2011.
I am already an established athlete, do I have to go through Phase 1?
No. If you’re an already established athlete with excellent results, please contact me directly.
I am not a pro, should I apply?
If you believe you can be a world-class athlete, you should apply.
How will the squad function in 2011?
The training camps will be the center of activity of the squad in 2011. Locations for training camps will not be decided by lifestyle considerations, but on what is the best training environment for the athletes to work. The squad will have a semi-permanent location for 2012 and beyond.
Where and when will the training camps be?
Training camp #1 – Las Cruces, NM – January 15th to January 30th
Training camp #2 – Tucson, AZ– February 19th to March 13th
Training camp #3 – Las Cruces, NM – April 9th to May 8th
Training camp #4 – TBA – June 6th to July 3th
Training camp #5 – TBA – August 8th to September 4th
I can’t join the squad, but I would love to be coached by Paulo, is that still possible?
Yes. The squad will run concurrently with my online coaching practice. Those athletes coached by me will have privileged access to the squad.
I’m an age-grouper and I would love to have a chance to train with the squad, is that possible?
Yes. There will be training camps specifically targeted to age-groupers and running at the same time as the squad camp. The format of these camps will be announced shortly.
Will the elements of the squad have to race the same races?
No. Athletes in the squad will have individual race schedules. Occasionally, it is possible that more than one squad member will be racing the same race , but that will depend on individual goals.
Is coach Paulo going to be present at every race?
My presence at races will depend on financial support from the athletes. In the case where there will be several athletes at the same race, it will be very inexpensive for athletes to pitch in and support my travel expenses.
Who else is joining the squad?
Do you want to join the squad for yourself and what you want to accomplish, or for the athletes that will be in the squad? The squad will provide an opportunity to work in a team environment with like-minded individuals, that is the main strength of the squad.
How much will this cost me?
The main cost of belonging to the squad is lodging/food during the training camps.
I want to join the squad, but I want to keep my current coach, is that possible?
No. But you might want to ask yourself if you are working in an environment that will allow you to achieve your goals.
Since I've gotten many questions regarding the squad, I thought I would publish a FAQ. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at pstriathlon@gmail.com
Professional Triathlon Training Squad
- presented by pstriathlon.com
What is it?
A new-concept professional triathlon squad. Under my direction, this new squad offers both emerging and established elite triathletes a high-level training squad operating mainly in North America
What is its mission?
The mission of the squad is to develop elite triathletes capable of competing successfully at international level. Triathlon is a sport where athletes don’t reach their full potential and race their best until several years after starting to race at the professional level. Therefore, the purpose of this program is to provide a comprehensive, positive and supportive environment that prepares emerging elite triathletes for their highest performance ability in the coming years. Toward that end, the program provides an optimal training environment as well as the guidance necessary to gradually yet progressively develop the skills required for world-class performances in triathlon.
Who is Coach Paulo Sousa?
I am a certified triathlon coach who has the unique ability to combine the science of endurance training with the art of real-world coaching. A student of the sport for close to 15 years, I continue to apply advances in sports science to his training programs. My influences include “Doc” Counsilman, Jan Olbrecht, Tim Noakes, Jack Daniels, Brett Sutton and Joel Filliol.
What are the core values of the squad?
- Commitment to excellence
- Loyalty and honesty
- Long-term approach to high performance
- Stability of methods and technical approaches
What are the basic attributes athletes belonging to the squad need to possess?
- Ability to recognize challenge and adjust mentally and physically to positively face the challenge
- Enjoy competing with yourself and others
- See the benefit of a competitive environment to personal development
- See obstacles as a necessary and useful part of the learning process
- Display initiative, self responsibility and independence in quest for progression
- Ability to prioritize lifestyle to encompass all the work needed to progress
- Acceptance of the different forms and tools that offer feedback
- Ability to turn negative criticism into a positive learning tool
- “Be the best you can be, everyday”
What is the process to join the squad?
Selection for the squad will be composed of two phases:
Phase 1 – Application to join the squad (October 2010).
Phase 2 – Evaluation after attending a trial training camp (January 2011).
Phase 1? What is that?
Applications for Phase 1 of the project are open until October 31st, 2010. Just send an email to pstriathlon@gmail.com with your athletic resume and a statement on your motivation to join the squad. All athletes applying to the squad will receive a reply, stating their acceptance or not into the squad. The athletes selected for Phase 2 will be announced on November 15th.
What if I go through to Phase 2?
Those athletes will attend a two-week training camp in Las Cruces, NM in January 2011. At the camp, the athletes will be evaluated as to their potential to be part of the squad in 2011.
I am already an established athlete, do I have to go through Phase 1?
No. If you’re an already established athlete with excellent results, please contact me directly.
I am not a pro, should I apply?
If you believe you can be a world-class athlete, you should apply.
How will the squad function in 2011?
The training camps will be the center of activity of the squad in 2011. Locations for training camps will not be decided by lifestyle considerations, but on what is the best training environment for the athletes to work. The squad will have a semi-permanent location for 2012 and beyond.
Where and when will the training camps be?
Training camp #1 – Las Cruces, NM – January 15th to January 30th
Training camp #2 – Tucson, AZ– February 19th to March 13th
Training camp #3 – Las Cruces, NM – April 9th to May 8th
Training camp #4 – TBA – June 6th to July 3th
Training camp #5 – TBA – August 8th to September 4th
I can’t join the squad, but I would love to be coached by Paulo, is that still possible?
Yes. The squad will run concurrently with my online coaching practice. Those athletes coached by me will have privileged access to the squad.
I’m an age-grouper and I would love to have a chance to train with the squad, is that possible?
Yes. There will be training camps specifically targeted to age-groupers and running at the same time as the squad camp. The format of these camps will be announced shortly.
Will the elements of the squad have to race the same races?
No. Athletes in the squad will have individual race schedules. Occasionally, it is possible that more than one squad member will be racing the same race , but that will depend on individual goals.
Is coach Paulo going to be present at every race?
My presence at races will depend on financial support from the athletes. In the case where there will be several athletes at the same race, it will be very inexpensive for athletes to pitch in and support my travel expenses.
Who else is joining the squad?
Do you want to join the squad for yourself and what you want to accomplish, or for the athletes that will be in the squad? The squad will provide an opportunity to work in a team environment with like-minded individuals, that is the main strength of the squad.
How much will this cost me?
The main cost of belonging to the squad is lodging/food during the training camps.
I want to join the squad, but I want to keep my current coach, is that possible?
No. But you might want to ask yourself if you are working in an environment that will allow you to achieve your goals.
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Call to Action
On my blog and in private conversations I have pointed to the need to form a strong elite training squad based in North America.
Therefore I decided to do something about that and start a very ambitious project. A professional training squad that provides an environment for athletes to gradually, yet progressively, develop the skills required for world-class performances in triathlon. The squad will be open to both ITU and Ironman athletes.
This squad will be based on commitment and sacrifice. My commitment to offer world-class triathlon coaching, and the athletes’ commitment and sacrifice to be the best they can be. It will be based on partnership and commitment to excellence in high performance triathlon.
Words like commitment and sacrifice are nice words, words that you can find in any self-help book. But few of us realize what they really mean because few of us have an idea of what commitment and sacrifice really means. In a society where everything is served to us in a platter, everyone has an increasing difficulty in understanding the real meaning for commitment and sacrifice. And that means that few of us have what it takes.
For those that have what it takes, achieving their goals is the ultimate objective and for that they sacrifice everything else. Among the things they sacrifice is the ego-driven necessity that some athletes have of being in control of every aspect of their lives, which obviously includes their training process. Throughout my years as a coach I have encountered many self-coached athletes that, although with lofty goals and a seemingly unshakeable drive to be the best they can, simply did not have what it takes because of their inability to trust others with their training.
So the question is, do you have what it takes? Well, maybe you don’t. Very few of us have the necessary combination of genetic talent, mental skills and social environment in order to achieve personal excellence in triathlon. But maybe, just maybe you have what it takes. How do you know if you have it? It is quite simple: You go through the process. You put the work in. You commit and you sacrifice. And the product of that commitment and that sacrifice will answer the question.
The squad will operate mainly in North America, with the possibility of having training camps in Europe. The training camps will be the center of activity of the squad. Locations for training camps will not be decided by lifestyle considerations, but on what is the best training environment for the athletes to work. At the training camps, athletes will have 7 days/week, full-time coaching “on deck”.
The core values of the squad are:
- Commitment to excellence
- Loyalty and honesty
- Long-term approach to high performance
- Stability of methods and technical approaches
The basic attributes athletes belonging to the squad need to possess are:
- Ability to recognize challenge and adjust mentally and physically to positively face the challenge
- Enjoy competing with yourself and others
- See the benefit of a competitive environment to personal development
- See obstacles as a necessary and useful part of the learning process
- Display initiative, self responsibility and independence in quest for progression
- Ability to prioritize lifestyle to encompass all the work needed to progress
- Acceptance of the different forms and tools that offer feedback
- Ability to turn negative criticism into a positive learning tool
- Be the best you can be, everyday
Selection for the squad will be composed of two phases:
Phase 1 – Application to join the squad (October 2010).
Phase 2 – Evaluation after attending a trial training camp (January 2011).
Applications for Phase 1 of the project are open until October 31st, 2010. Just send an email to pstriathlon@gmail.com with your CV and a statement on your motivation to join the squad. All athletes applying to the squad will receive a reply, stating their acceptance or not into the squad.
The athletes selected for Phase 2 will be announced on November 15th. Those athletes will attend a two-week training camp in Las Cruces, NM in January 2011. At the camp, the athletes will be evaluated as to their potential to be part of the squad in 2011.
If you have any questions regarding the squad, please don’t hesitate to contact me at pstriathlon@gmail.com .
Yours in Triathlon,
Paulo
Therefore I decided to do something about that and start a very ambitious project. A professional training squad that provides an environment for athletes to gradually, yet progressively, develop the skills required for world-class performances in triathlon. The squad will be open to both ITU and Ironman athletes.
This squad will be based on commitment and sacrifice. My commitment to offer world-class triathlon coaching, and the athletes’ commitment and sacrifice to be the best they can be. It will be based on partnership and commitment to excellence in high performance triathlon.
Words like commitment and sacrifice are nice words, words that you can find in any self-help book. But few of us realize what they really mean because few of us have an idea of what commitment and sacrifice really means. In a society where everything is served to us in a platter, everyone has an increasing difficulty in understanding the real meaning for commitment and sacrifice. And that means that few of us have what it takes.
For those that have what it takes, achieving their goals is the ultimate objective and for that they sacrifice everything else. Among the things they sacrifice is the ego-driven necessity that some athletes have of being in control of every aspect of their lives, which obviously includes their training process. Throughout my years as a coach I have encountered many self-coached athletes that, although with lofty goals and a seemingly unshakeable drive to be the best they can, simply did not have what it takes because of their inability to trust others with their training.
So the question is, do you have what it takes? Well, maybe you don’t. Very few of us have the necessary combination of genetic talent, mental skills and social environment in order to achieve personal excellence in triathlon. But maybe, just maybe you have what it takes. How do you know if you have it? It is quite simple: You go through the process. You put the work in. You commit and you sacrifice. And the product of that commitment and that sacrifice will answer the question.
The squad will operate mainly in North America, with the possibility of having training camps in Europe. The training camps will be the center of activity of the squad. Locations for training camps will not be decided by lifestyle considerations, but on what is the best training environment for the athletes to work. At the training camps, athletes will have 7 days/week, full-time coaching “on deck”.
The core values of the squad are:
- Commitment to excellence
- Loyalty and honesty
- Long-term approach to high performance
- Stability of methods and technical approaches
The basic attributes athletes belonging to the squad need to possess are:
- Ability to recognize challenge and adjust mentally and physically to positively face the challenge
- Enjoy competing with yourself and others
- See the benefit of a competitive environment to personal development
- See obstacles as a necessary and useful part of the learning process
- Display initiative, self responsibility and independence in quest for progression
- Ability to prioritize lifestyle to encompass all the work needed to progress
- Acceptance of the different forms and tools that offer feedback
- Ability to turn negative criticism into a positive learning tool
- Be the best you can be, everyday
Selection for the squad will be composed of two phases:
Phase 1 – Application to join the squad (October 2010).
Phase 2 – Evaluation after attending a trial training camp (January 2011).
Applications for Phase 1 of the project are open until October 31st, 2010. Just send an email to pstriathlon@gmail.com with your CV and a statement on your motivation to join the squad. All athletes applying to the squad will receive a reply, stating their acceptance or not into the squad.
The athletes selected for Phase 2 will be announced on November 15th. Those athletes will attend a two-week training camp in Las Cruces, NM in January 2011. At the camp, the athletes will be evaluated as to their potential to be part of the squad in 2011.
If you have any questions regarding the squad, please don’t hesitate to contact me at pstriathlon@gmail.com .
Yours in Triathlon,
Paulo
Monday, October 4, 2010
Getting the work done (reprint)
Jonnyo “invented” that expression: “Getting the work done”. And slowly but surely, the expression and the attitude behind it was adopted by everyone in the posse. I use the word attitude because there really is an attitude behind “getting the work done”.
“Getting the work done" is about trusting what you are doing and focusing all your energy into execution, both in training and racing. The sport of triathlon is full of overthinkers. They overthink everything: nutrition, equipment and of course training. Proof of the existence of these overthinkers is the popularity of triathlon forums, with their endless pages of often pointless discussion. What makes overthinking an issue is that when athletes overthink, they lose focus. Focus on the truly important things: consistency, patience, long-term approach to development. This is a problem for many athletes, but I see it worse when coaches suffer from it. Too many coaches out there overthink their processes and “infect” their athletes with superfluous questioning of every step of the training process. The bottom line is that overthinking is synonym with underachieving.
“Getting the work done” is about consistency. Every athlete has days where it is hard to get out the door for the next workout. Most of the times this is a mental issue that is experienced by athletes at every level. One way of helping the athlete with these issues is to build the schedule around training sessions that do not need a lot of mental energy to accomplish. I like to call them “bread-and-butter” sessions. They are usually short in duration and low-intensity, but are still a very important part of the overall training program. They do not ask much from the athlete in terms of mental commitment and all he/she needs to do is to go out and get the work done.
“Getting the work done” is about expanding your personal boundaries. In order to do that, you have to go to your limit and then past it. You will be in a place where fatigue will cause you to doubt everything you are doing. And you are at that point, the only way is up and for that you need to get the work done.
Finally, “getting the work done” is about commitment to your goals. A lot of people have very lofty goals but hesitate when it is time to do the work that will allow them to accomplish those goals. For the large majority of athletes, what keeps them from achieving their goals is to get the work done.
Now get out there and just… get the work done!
“Getting the work done" is about trusting what you are doing and focusing all your energy into execution, both in training and racing. The sport of triathlon is full of overthinkers. They overthink everything: nutrition, equipment and of course training. Proof of the existence of these overthinkers is the popularity of triathlon forums, with their endless pages of often pointless discussion. What makes overthinking an issue is that when athletes overthink, they lose focus. Focus on the truly important things: consistency, patience, long-term approach to development. This is a problem for many athletes, but I see it worse when coaches suffer from it. Too many coaches out there overthink their processes and “infect” their athletes with superfluous questioning of every step of the training process. The bottom line is that overthinking is synonym with underachieving.
“Getting the work done” is about consistency. Every athlete has days where it is hard to get out the door for the next workout. Most of the times this is a mental issue that is experienced by athletes at every level. One way of helping the athlete with these issues is to build the schedule around training sessions that do not need a lot of mental energy to accomplish. I like to call them “bread-and-butter” sessions. They are usually short in duration and low-intensity, but are still a very important part of the overall training program. They do not ask much from the athlete in terms of mental commitment and all he/she needs to do is to go out and get the work done.
“Getting the work done” is about expanding your personal boundaries. In order to do that, you have to go to your limit and then past it. You will be in a place where fatigue will cause you to doubt everything you are doing. And you are at that point, the only way is up and for that you need to get the work done.
Finally, “getting the work done” is about commitment to your goals. A lot of people have very lofty goals but hesitate when it is time to do the work that will allow them to accomplish those goals. For the large majority of athletes, what keeps them from achieving their goals is to get the work done.
Now get out there and just… get the work done!
Friday, October 1, 2010
What it takes (reprint)
“What it takes” is an expression everyone likes. The question “Do I have what it takes?” is in the mind of every athlete many times during their athletic career. The question “Do you have what it takes?” is in the mind of any coach whenever he or she starts coaching a new athlete. Yet, the answer to that question is not easy. “What it takes” is very hard to quantify and even hard to show to others. Not a lot of people know what it takes and learning about it is a difficult task, as there are different paths to it.
We all recognize the importance of setting clear, realistic, achievable goals. Most athletes are capable of setting those goals for themselves and with the help of a good, experienced coach, they can have feedback about how realistic and achievable are those goals. But an entirely different question is: Do they have what it takes to achieve those goals? This question is one that is important to athletes of every level.
At both the age-group and elite level, what it takes means commitment and sacrifice. Commitment to put in the right kind of work. Sacrifice of a lot of things that are dear to us in order to put in the right kind of work. Commitment and sacrifice are nice words, words that you can find in any self-help book. Words that maybe get us out the door for the next run. But few of us realize what they really mean because few of us have an idea of what commitment and sacrifice really means. In a society where everything is served to us in a platter, everyone has an increasing difficulty in understanding the real meaning for commitment and sacrifice. And that means that few of us have what it takes.
For those that have what it takes, achieving their goals is the ultimate goal and for that they sacrifice everything else. Among the things they sacrifice is the ego-driven necessity that some athletes have of being in control of every aspect of their lives, which obviously includes their training process. Throughout my years as a coach I have encountered many self-coached athletes that, although with lofty goals and a seemingly unshakeable drive to be the best they can, simply did not have what it takes because of their inability to trust others with their training.
So the question is, do you have what it takes? Well, maybe you don’t. Most sports psychology books talk about accessing your inner potential, about achieving excellence, like it is something that is within reach of every single one of us. In reality, it is something that is accessible to very few of us. Very few of us have the necessary combination of genetic talent, mental skills and social environment in order to achieve personal excellence in triathlon. And there is really nothing wrong with that, since not being able to be a successful athlete is not a character flaw. I have met plenty of very successful people that made for very lousy triathletes.
But maybe, just maybe you have what it takes. How do you know if you have it? It is quite simple: You go through the process. You put the work in. You commit and you sacrifice. And the product of that commitment and that sacrifice will answer the question.
Do you have what it takes?
We all recognize the importance of setting clear, realistic, achievable goals. Most athletes are capable of setting those goals for themselves and with the help of a good, experienced coach, they can have feedback about how realistic and achievable are those goals. But an entirely different question is: Do they have what it takes to achieve those goals? This question is one that is important to athletes of every level.
At both the age-group and elite level, what it takes means commitment and sacrifice. Commitment to put in the right kind of work. Sacrifice of a lot of things that are dear to us in order to put in the right kind of work. Commitment and sacrifice are nice words, words that you can find in any self-help book. Words that maybe get us out the door for the next run. But few of us realize what they really mean because few of us have an idea of what commitment and sacrifice really means. In a society where everything is served to us in a platter, everyone has an increasing difficulty in understanding the real meaning for commitment and sacrifice. And that means that few of us have what it takes.
For those that have what it takes, achieving their goals is the ultimate goal and for that they sacrifice everything else. Among the things they sacrifice is the ego-driven necessity that some athletes have of being in control of every aspect of their lives, which obviously includes their training process. Throughout my years as a coach I have encountered many self-coached athletes that, although with lofty goals and a seemingly unshakeable drive to be the best they can, simply did not have what it takes because of their inability to trust others with their training.
So the question is, do you have what it takes? Well, maybe you don’t. Most sports psychology books talk about accessing your inner potential, about achieving excellence, like it is something that is within reach of every single one of us. In reality, it is something that is accessible to very few of us. Very few of us have the necessary combination of genetic talent, mental skills and social environment in order to achieve personal excellence in triathlon. And there is really nothing wrong with that, since not being able to be a successful athlete is not a character flaw. I have met plenty of very successful people that made for very lousy triathletes.
But maybe, just maybe you have what it takes. How do you know if you have it? It is quite simple: You go through the process. You put the work in. You commit and you sacrifice. And the product of that commitment and that sacrifice will answer the question.
Do you have what it takes?
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