Coach Tip Tuesday: Be Specific!

Posted On:
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Updated On:
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Stream On:
Apple PodcastsSpotifyBuzzsproutiHeart RadioiHeart RadioPocketCasts
A journal with a blank page just waiting for some specific notes!!

It’s that time again - Coach Tip Tuesday!

This week’s tip is inspired by a post-workout comment I received from an athlete last week:

“Didn’t feel great when I woke up but that often changes when I get into a run.  However, today went from bad to terrible.  Knowing you, you’ll probably ask what specifically.”

As you might be able to tell from this comment, this athlete and I have been working together for a while.  And as such, I know this athlete pretty well, and this athlete knows me pretty well.  They knew that I wouldn’t just accept them saying that something was terrible.  They knew that I would want to know *exactly* what made the run terrible.

Many athletes have told me over the years that they “dread” when I ask this question: “What specifically made you feel the way you did?” Why do they dread it? Because I’m asking them to look at themselves and their workouts in extreme detail. Sometimes, this leads people to see things that they don’t necessarily want to see. Other times, it just feels like a lot of work. But that’s my job: to help athletes see the things that they can’t see themselves, so they can get to a place that they couldn’t have gone to on their own.

Here’s the deal folks: Being specific in your reflections on your training and racing is SO useful. Sure, it’s helpful for me when athletes provide specifics on their workouts and how they feel. And while that’s great (and it certainly helps me do my job better!), the REAL reason why I try to have athletes establish the habit of specificity is for THEM.

In my humble opinion, a good coach helps athletes learn more about themselves and increases the number of tools in the athlete’s toolbelt so that the athlete is well-equipped when they (inevitably) go off into the world on their own without the coach right there to guide them.  This might happen at a race when the coach isn’t there on-site with the athlete to help them, in a workout, or even more permanently when the athlete discontinues working with the coach.  But no matter what, athletes NEED to be able to function on their own.  A coach’s job is to help them learn to make wise choices for themselves and to help them to feel confident that they know themselves well enough to make the right choices.

Increasing self-awareness is one of the most instrumental ways a coach can accomplish this mission. As I talk about so often, the three pillars of endurance training are frequency, consistency, and self-awareness. Helping athletes excel in all three of these arenas really increases the athlete’s probability of success at reaching their goals.

And so, the specificity factor comes into play with self-awareness. Saying something didn’t feel good is okay, but saying WHY it didn’t feel good is better. If something didn’t go well, you really should take the time to reflect on why it didn’t go well so you can learn from the experience and seek to avoid following the same path to feeling terrible twice. Most people don’t enjoy it when things don’t go the way they want them to, so it stands to reason that you would want to do what you can to avoid landing in the same place twice, right?

This actually works on the flip side of this as well; saying something was good is okay, but identifying WHY it went well is where you really get a lot of insight. Honestly, I think that most people don’t usually spend enough time identifying what went well; folks tend to take feeling good for granted. But if you don’t know WHY you felt good in a workout or in race, how can you realistically expect to replicate a similar result, or even more importantly, build upon that to reach a loftier goal or a better result?

So being specific really does serve you well, whether a workout went great or poorly. And it’s REALLY important to document the specifics soon after the workout or race in question; just yesterday (Monday), an athlete wrote the following comment on a workout they completed on Saturday, “Don’t remember much of this workout.” Just TWO days later, the athlete couldn’t’ remember enough details to give me subjective feedback on the workout. You may have the best of intentions (as this athlete definitely did! :) ) to remember everything and to record it later, but I’m telling you (after analyzing and responding to literally thousands of workout uploads and comments), that the chances of you remembering the specific details of a workout or race beyond those first couple of post-event hours are VERY small (and I PROMISE that you are not the exception to this!! :) ).

So, do yourselves (and your coach, if you have one!) a solid: be SPECIFIC when you make notes about how something went. As an athlete, you’ll really value the feedback you leave for yourself as you plan future workouts. If you have a coach, your coach will LOVE it and it will enable them to do the job that you hired them to do so much better.

So say it with me in your best cheerleader voice: Be Specific! B - E - Specific!

Previous post

There is no previous post
Back to all posts

Next post

There is no next post
Back to all posts

Athlete Race Recap: Cold Turkey Run

Required "current" page

What Does Nothing New on Race Day Actually Mean? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Nevada Day Classic

Required "current" page

Confidence Comes From Surviving Doing The Scary Thing - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: World Triathlon Age-Group Championships Málaga, Brooktondale Easy as Pie 5K, & Topsfield Fall Foliage Classic Road Race 

Required "current" page

Is Exercise as Good as Medicine? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Army Ten-Miler & XTERRA WETSUITS Mission Bay Triathlon

Required "current" page

Why Switching Up Goals Can be a Positive Thing - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

What to Ask Instead of “Can I Accomplish This Goal?” - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Waterman’s Triathlon & The Bear Chase

Required "current" page

How Do Long Runs & Long Rides Work & Benefit Endurance Athletes? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

How Masters Endurance Athletes Show Us How We Can All Thrive in Endurance Sports and in Life - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: IRONMAN 70.3 Cozumel & IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: USA Triathlon Olympic Distance National Championship

Required "current" page

Being Hard on Yourself?  Try This Instead. - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Littlefoot Triathlon & Erie Marathon

Required "current" page

How Doing Something New Can Help You Achieve Your Endurance Sports Goals - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Why It’s Important to Look for Lessons Even When Race Day Goes Well - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Why Disappointment on Race Day Leads to Greater Success - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

How Much Does it Cost to Train for an IRONMAN 70.3? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Coeur Outdoor Divas Sprint Triathlon & Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon

Required "current" page

How Much Does it Cost to Train for an IRONMAN? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Max Performance Sharon Triathlon

Required "current" page

How Much Does it Cost to Train for a Half Marathon? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: 174th Attack Wing Runway 5K

Required "current" page

Athelte Race Recap: IRONMAN 70.3 Maine & Donner Lake Triathlon

Required "current" page

How Much Does it Cost to Train for a Marathon? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Tri Boulder, IRONMAN Lake Placid, & IRONMAN 70.3 Ohio

Required "current" page

Are You on Track to Reach Your Goals?  The Value of a Mid-Season Athletic Performance Review

Required "current" page

Why You Shouldn't Wear a Wetsuit in Triathlons and Open Water Swimming

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: The Best Way to Avoid Injury

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Freedom 4th Eagle Firecracker Run

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: A Longer Goal Isn't a Better Goal

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Relay for Life of Southeastern Connecticut, Loveland Lake to Lake Triathlon, & Cohasset Triathlon

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Why Race Execution Matters

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: The Best Thing for Beginner Endurance Athletes to Do

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: IRONMAN 70.3 Western Massachusetts & IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: How to Train and Perform Well in the Heat

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon, Silver Serpent Multisport Festival, & Rock Hall Triathlons

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: The Three Best Things Endurance Athletes Can Do for Training and Performance

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Using All of Your Senses in Workouts

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Are Morning or Evening Workouts Better?‍

Required "current" page

How to Train for a Sprint Triathlon

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: You Don’t Always Need to Do The Hardest or The Most

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Greenland Trail Race & Upstate Orthopedics Mountain Goat Run‍

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: How to Handle The Transition From Indoor to Outdoor Training

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: XTERRA New Jersey

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: What if You Fly?

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Carson Canyons Super-K Trail Runs & Delaware Half Marathon

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: The Case for Walking

Required "current" page

How to Handle Training When You Get Sick

Required "current" page

The Dangers of Social Media for Endurance Athletes

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Coastal Delaware Running Festival 9K & Zoo Run Run

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Seek Out Awe & Enchantment

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Smithfield Sprint Triathlon & Run as One 4M

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Negative Splits are Positive Things

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Multisport Transitions Explained

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Alpha Win Ocala

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Don't Pull Up on Your Bicycle Pedals

Required "current" page

Pace & Effort are NOT the Same Thing - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Demystifying Foam Rolling

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: What Stretching Actually Is

Required "current" page

Cycling Cadence Matters

Required "current" page

How to Properly Conduct a Functional Threshold Power (FTP) Test - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Lake Effect Quarter Marathon

Required "current" page

Face the Discomfort Dragon - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Love Can Be Cold

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Live to Climb Another Day

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Is AI Coaching & Sports Training Software Actually Intelligent?

Required "current" page

Strength Training as a Backbone - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Town of Celebration Half Marathon

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Resolute Runner 5K

Required "current" page

My Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2023

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: How Do You Answer “What’s Next?”

Required "current" page

My Top 8 Fiction Books of 2023

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: The Next Big Thing

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: What is Preventing You from Reaching Your Goals?

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: What Does It Mean to Set a Goal?

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: It’s A Wonderful Run & Run with Rudolph

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: 2023 Thanksgiving Day Races

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: EOD Warrior Dash

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Exercise is Not a Punishment for What You Ate

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Include Buffers in Your Training

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Lights on the Lake 5K

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Pause Before Assessing

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Cold Turkey Run & The Burn Run

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Set Authentic Goals

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: What Can Be Measured Isn’t What is Most Important

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: Don’t Complain About the Wind.  Embrace It.

Required "current" page

Avoid Doubling Up to Make Up

Required "current" page

What to Consider When Purchasing a New Bicycle - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Foxy’s Fall Century, Spooktacular Stroll 5K, & Eastwood 5-Mile Run

Required "current" page

Coach Tip Tuesday: How to Plan a Season

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Lake Placid Classic & Army Ten-Miler

Required "current" page

What Are Training Phases? - Coach Tip Tuesday

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Last Call Triathlon, Waterman’s Triathlon, & Wineglass Marathon

Required "current" page

Athlete Race Recap: Bear Chase 10K & IRONMAN Chattanooga

Required "current" page

About

Coach Laura Henry

Laura Henry is a Syracuse, NY-based coach who is a USA Triathlon Level II Long Course and Level II Paratriathlon Certified Coach, USA Cycling Level 2 Certified Coach, VFS Certified Bike Fitter, and has successfully completed NASM's Certified Personal Trainer course. Coach Laura is passionate about helping athletes of all ability levels reach their goals and has coached many athletes to success.

She can be reached at laura@fullcircleendurance.com.

Read Biography

Check out our other
recent Blog Posts

Start Your

Coaching Today

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Start Your

Coaching Today

Have a question or ready to get your TRAINING started?

Fill out our Contact Form to the right and we will get back to you shortly!

Check - Elements Webflow Library - BRIX Templates

Thank you

Thanks for reaching out. We will get back to you soon.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.