The 2B Training Style

2B Training Style

ath·lete (n.) A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, stamina, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.

I grew up playing golf from dawn till dusk and I’ve heard the argument countless times about whether golfers are athletes. Some say they’re not because overweight, chain-smoking, beer-drinking, non-exercisers like John Daly can win multiple major championships. Others say golfers are athletes because golf requires a tremendous amount of skill, balance, focus, and hand-eye coordination. You can make debates and find examples similar to this one in almost every type of "sport"...

So, what makes someone an athlete? How do YOU define an athlete? 2B Training Style

The question of what makes an athlete is exhaustive and beyond the scope of this webpage. There are obviously a lot of different factors to consider. It is not my place to say who is and who isn't an athlete. But I encourage all 2B clients to think of themselves as a special, non-traditional athlete—a 2B Athlete. And these are the top 9 reasons why YOU are (or should be) a 2B Athlete:

2B Athletes train—they rarely (if ever) work out. Training and working out are polar opposites. People that work out are the ones you see wandering aimlessly around the health club, wondering what they should do next. Or better yet, they SIT on a machine in no particular hurry, knowing what they’ll do next, but not really caring WHEN it actually happens. These people claim to work out for “at least an hour,” but if you factor in wasted time wandering and sitting, you’ll realize half of that time is meaningless. 2B Athletes have a method to their madness—a purpose to their plan. They perform specific actions that yield targeted results. 2B Athletes maximize their efficiency and don’t “go through the motions.”

2B Athletes vary their training cycle. They realize that there is a time to peak and a time to rest. It is not possible to train hard all the time because the body rebuilds itself during rest and recovery—and this is beneficial physically and psychologically. 2B Athletes will progress and regress, because MAINTAINING is difficult, if not impossible. By listening to their bodies and allowing their skills and fitness to slightly regress during rest and recovery, they are able to progress to even higher levels than ever possible if their focus was on “maintaining.”

2B Athletes use their Brain. They THINK. A wise man once said, tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll UNDERSTAND. 2B athletes are involved and understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. This grasp of knowledge gives them an underlying motivation, confidence, and autonomy to get the job done when it matters most. They make Decisions that are consistent with their understandings.

2B Athletes love the intrinsic process of improvement. It brings them satisfaction. They strive 2B better than they were yesterday, physically and/or mentally. And because of these expectations for daily improvement, others’ expectations become irrelevant. The 2B Athletes’ own expectations are the only barometer that matters.

2B Athletes have specific daily situational demands that must be met and they tailor their training to help them excel at these. A stay-at-home mother in charge of hauling kids around town all day needs a tremendous amount of stamina and endurance (and patience). A corporate executive needs strong mental focus and concentration skills for key meetings and presentations. A salesperson needs 2B sharp and confident when it comes time to pitch a product. An administrative secretary needs 2B attentive and assertive when it comes to carrying out tasks. All of these roles require different skills. All of them require different training protocols to excel. 2B Athletes train to perform well in these specific situations.

2B Athletes see themselves doing well. Their glass is always half full. They believe the power of the human mind is incredible, and they know if they can’t see themselves doing it, it’ll never happen. Instead of living their lives paralyzed by fear, they lead their lives driven by desire. This belief allows them 2B extremely successful in the goals they set.

2B Athletes don’t make excuses. They take personal responsibility for their actions, how they allocate their time, their successes and their failures. They don’t say “I didn’t have enough time,” because they realize what they’re really saying is “I wasn’t willing to make it a priority.” 2B Athletes worry about the factors they can control (their Decisions) and leave the factors they cannot control to the Man upstairs…

2B Athletes love to have fun. Sometimes fun comes with winning. Sometimes fun comes with losing. Sometimes fun comes with improvement. And sometimes fun comes in the irony and unexpectedness of this game called Life. But life is too short 2B serious ALL the time and 2B Athletes are able to step back and enjoy themselves in the process.

2B Athletes prepare. They also plan. They don’t “wing it,” and they do their homework. 2B Athletes value time as a precious resource and structure their days so valuable time will not be lost. Preparation mentally and physically gets a 2B Athlete in tune with their body and ready to perform, and planning allows them to organize their nutrition and training with other work, family, and social obligations.

As you can see, none of these things are rocket science. They are simple principles involving the Brain & Body that most often go overlooked. And these points will all make you a better person and a better athlete.

So, are you a 2B Athlete? And if not, what is stopping you from becoming one? Take the first step here!