How GRP Biathletes find motivation

by GRP Biathlete Margie Freed

Summer training sometimes becomes a drag due to heat, long hours, and just pure exhaustion. Thankfully there are numerous ways the GRP biathletes stay motivated and they want to share these tips with you!

Kelsey stays motivated by being sure that easy/rest days are really easy so she is still able to push herself on the hard days even when feeling tired. 

Margie leans on her training partners as accountability buddies and finds the motivation of others as a huge help in self encouragement.

Luke thinks about moose that could be seen on the trail when struggling to make it through the final hour of a distance workout and also relies on tasty snacks.

Michaela builds in rest if she can and sets fun objectives for training. If there’s something to be excited to get out the door for, it’s a lot easier (destination bike ride, distance goal for a run or swim, mountain to climb, etc.). Also, training with friends is always motivating. : )

Tim tries to think about the big picture and how the things he is working on now will help meet goals in the winter.

Bjorn is similar to Tim, and ultimately the motivation comes from knowing the training plan and trusting the process and planning of the year. At the end of the day pain makes you stronger and that is strangely reassuring for him.

Jake gets motivated by getting a little too obsessed about the tweaks he’s made to his technique. He also likes to end training at a lake and gets hyped by watching the Tour de France and random sport documentaries.

Jackie finds motivation through a story from childhood. "When I was younger, I saw some quote along the lines of ‘motivation is fickle. discipline is forever.’ I really don’t stay motivated when I'm tired - I'm not hyped up to go do my workout. I'm just disciplined. it’s like working on a farm or something. It doesn’t matter if you’re tired, the animals still need to be tended to. It doesn’t matter if I'm tired, the training still needs to happen.

Raleigh, as our coach, also has to stay motivated. He stays motivated to make sure that he is not an obstacle or a passive partner in the development of the athletes. Raleigh also provides insight reminding us that elite athletes need to be able to motivate themselves.