1. Adequate Training

2. Consistent Training

3. Adequate Recovery

4. Setting Goals

5. Coaching

6. Nutrition

7. Positive Mental Attitude

This list is according to Active.com's triathlon newsletter and there are lots of stuff to read about each habit. My general view on these kind of articles is that there are to many of them and to much writing/talking. It feels a bit like reading instructions before you try yourself, regardless if it's about some new technology equipment or some IKEA furniture. Much more fun, to try yourself first and trust your intuition. Of course it seldoms works the way I think, due to either illogical constructions or that I'm smarter than average ;-) Instructions are for dummies ;-) 

If I make an evalutation of my own habits to become a more effective triathlete, runner or whatever, I believe that I have one out of these seven habits and that is number 7. Regarding the other 6 habits, I shoot from the hip and steal my moments whenever I can find them. From a retrospective viewpoint and in the eyes of others, it might look like I've been planning some training & setting goals etc, but that's definately a reconstruction. Even if I read all the stuff about the right ways of doing it, I don't want to become a slave under my own training regime. It has to be my own personal happy-go-lucky goofy style. So I don't really expect any quality results either. As long as I enjoy doing these kind of activities and believe in the positive side-effects that come with it, then I'm happy.

Currently I'm following Kari Martens on the final part of the running in the Deca Ironman Triathlon in Mexico. After 194 hours, he's in second place, only 20 km's behind the leader. Respect man! Still 80 km's to run, so tomorrow the race is over. Unbelievable! Great inspiration, that makes my coming evening run over 10 km's tonight, to feel like a yawning.