Back in the day, Olympic records used to mean something. You had to wear gold shoes or sport a cheesy ‘70s mustache to own one or two of them.
Now everyone and their brother has laid claim to a New Olympic Record®. These days you’re nobody unless you shave at least two-hundredths of a second off some dusty old record while on the world’s stage.
In all, 30 records were felled at this year’s Olympics. That’s a lot of records. What in the name of Frederick Carlton Lewis is going on here? Contrary to what the evidence suggests, these breathtaking breakthroughs are not the result of a new generation of genetic mutants.
In this column I will share with you the simple secrets to shattering record after record. OK, fine. Maybe not Olympic records, if you want to get all technical. But at least your own standards for success.
All you have to do is follow The Three T’s of Training with Tim: Technique, Technology and Time. You can train just like the Olympians.
Technique
You’ve heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder.” This applies just as much to working as it does to working out. Your results improve dramatically when you pay close attention to what you’re doing instead of just mindlessly going through the same old motions.
Consider Usain Bolt, the electrifying sprinter from Jamaica who broke world records in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes. In races where a few hundredths of a second is an eternity, technique becomes all important.
Bolt’s coach Glen Mills has said they spent two seasons becoming “as technically correct as possible.”
In other words, get your head in the game.
“Last year we concentrated on making him more efficient around the curve,” Mills was quoted in the Jamaica Gleaner. “I felt that I could significantly improve his 200 meters. He was leaning inside on the turn and was unbalanced. We got him to lean forward and that contributed to him developing a good first 100 meters.”
If you still doubt the mental aspect of powering through 100 meters or two, consider this quote from another track coach:
“You have Einstein. You have Isaac Newton. You have Beethoven. You have Usain Bolt.”
Technology
More than half of the 30 Olympic records were set in the pool alone. Even subtracting the superhuman efforts of Michael Phelps – the most decorated Olympic athlete in history – swimming would still account for more than a third of the Olympic standards set this summer.
In this case, it’s no secret that literally space-age fabric tested by NASA helped smash the standards. After being introduced in February, Speedo’s revolutionary LZR Racer suit accounted for 48 world records even before the Olympics.
We’ve come a long way since Mark Spitz’s mustache.
This brings up the argument that anyone can buy speed. There’s truth to this statement. All other things being equal, the athlete on a top-of-the-line road bike is going to perform much better than the athlete cranking a Wal-Mart special.
But technology isn’t just about enhancing performance. For the average person, technology can simply make a workout more pleasant. If you don’t believe me, just try to recall the days before air-conditioned gyms, moisture wicking shirts, iPod sleeves or even running shoes.
Visit any specialty athletic store, and you’ll find newly developed gadgets and gizmos, from self-massage sticks to hydration tablets. Even an investment in breathable socks can transform your workout, especially on a hot day. Here’s a revolutionary concept: If you have fun doing something, you’re more likely to continuing doing it.
That alone will keep you coming back, which brings us to the final T…
Time
Last but not least, the final ingredient to putting it all together is to practice, practice, practice. Oh yeah, practice some more.
It doesn’t matter if you’re training to finish your first 5K or to beat the world’s best. Michael Phelps – you might have heard of this guy – became the most decorated Olympian of all time for a reason. And not just because he’s a physical freak of nature, though that helped a little.
Phelps keeps a list of his goals next to his nightstand, so he’s reminded of his motivation every time he gets up early for another long day of training.
“I have to see them every day, whether I want to or not,” Phelps tells Outside Magazine. “They’re a constant reminder whenever I turn off the alarm clock.”
In preparation for Beijing, Phelps trained up to five hours a day both in the pool and in the weight room. But perhaps even more significant than his epic workouts was his unending patience and consistency. Phelps won a staggering eight gold medals in eight days, but it’s easy to forget that he trained for 12 years leading up to that point. It took time.
Even Superman had to learn to fly.
Training with Tim is arguably Milwaukee’s third most underrated fitness blog. It’s updated semi-daily at trainingwithtim.com.
