How Are Professionals Different?

Physically, that means an aspiring professional has to start serious training by her mid-thirties at the latest, but realistically, very few achieve professional status after their mid-twenties; so starting in the teens or twenties is a more promising path. This is not because bodies inevitably begin breaking down in their thirties, but because by the time women reach their thirties, they generally have responsibilities other than training for a sport. Jobs, families, kids, mortgages, and friends who are not athletes all detract from the necessary focus.

5) Pros don’t quit. They see suffering as part of their job, and setbacks as challenges to overcome rather than reasons to give up.

6) Some athletes respond to training and recovery more quickly. This may be a result of genetic talent, or how they ate and exercised as kids. Some people can train well and do everything else right, yet still not be as competitive as others who are luckier.

7) Following a professional-level training program requires the ability to recover from all that training. Relaxation is essential for recovery. Time to relax is one thing the pros (at least the well-paid ones) have, that makes them different. If one is getting paid to train and compete, one doesn’t have to put any energy into developing another career or skill. This means a pro can have a leisurely meal, take a nap, visit a doctor, get a massage, or go for another training session in the afternoon (after having already completed a morning session). Pros can also fly to race sites days or weeks in advance. If you don’t have time for good recovery, you don’t benefit from your training as much as another woman who does.

8) As you can see, professional endurance athletes are special in several ways. They are willing to work hard. They take nothing for granted. They study or get the guidance necessary to help them make efficient use of their time. They work through setbacks. They arrange their lives to support recovery. If you want to turn pro and think you have what it takes, you’ll need to get yourself time to relax every day. Maybe the reason so many of today’s pros started training in their teens is because their parents were willing to support them while they trained. Can you find someone to coddle you 24/7, and still be motivated to suffer on your own?