Do the work

There’s been a bunch of chatter online recently about a recent meta-study looking into the efficacy of various protocols for endurance training plans. Exciting, right? You can see it here: “Which Training Intensity Distribution Intervention will Produce the Greatest Improvements in Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Time-Trial Performance in Endurance Athletes? A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data”

The study found that it really doesn’t matter which training protocol you follow, it only matters that you follow some training plan well.

I’ve seen lots of folks online that seem upset by this finding. Maybe they were convinced that they had done the research and are absolutely sure that the new appeal of Zone 2 will save us all. Some have fallen in line behind a coach or coaching group that has incredible accolades that suggest their specific methodology is what yields the best results for their athletes.

Personally, I find this all really liberating, because it reinforces a very simplistic idea that is absolutely essential to your success — both athletically, and in any other part of your life. What truly matters is that you…

Show up. Do the work. Repeat.

That’s it. Consistency wins.

And ironically, I think this is what makes a coach truly great. They can help you prioritize your time and narrow your focus and not get wrapped up in things that don’t matter. Make the main thing the main thing. Do the work the best you can and show up to try another day.

I love that phrase. I used to work out with a guy in the very early years of Crossfit (lol) where many of the workouts felt incredibly challenging. A workout partner of mine at the time was a very disciplined hard working guy who always seemed to do more than the rest of us. When I was struggling, he’s square up to me, look me right in the face and yell “DO THE WORK!”. I loved him for it.

Nearly 20 years later, it’s still what I say to myself when things get really hard on the bike. When you are consistently stacking bricks in your training plan, putting in the effort day after day, you can look at the next hard challenge and know that it’s nothing you can’t do. You just do it.

Show up. Do the work. Repeat.

Just do the work.

You got this.