By Will Kuenzel

I’m frustrated.  Since bombing out of my meet in June, training has been lacking.  This summer has been jam-packed for both my family and my business.  Normal summers prior to this did not include two children and I’m fortunate to say that business has steadily improved for me over the past 4-6 months.  Although it is an offseason, I take all my training very seriously.  It isn’t just going to the gym and working out.  It has meaning.  It has a purpose.

I’m not making excuses.  It’s my choice to take more time off to spend with family.  It’s my choice to cut my workouts short so that I can take more clients.  I love having the freedom and schedule flexibility I have.  I’m glad I’m frustrated about training.  If I weren’t frustrated, it would mean that I didn’t care.  Believe me when I say that I do really care about my training.  It’s one of my top priorities in life.  While admittedly my priorities shift, my top 3 priorities are always my top 3: family, business, and training.

Showing my frustration means that training still has its place in my life.  It also shows that I have work to do.  Being frustrated means that everything isn’t perfect.  Being frustrated means that I can improve.  If I can improve, then I’m only going to keep getting better.  It means I’m learning.  It means that I’ve not maxed out my potential.

Since June I’ve reassessed my goals, my training, and myself.  I’ve got a few technical issues that need addressing.  I’ve gotten help on a few mobility issues that have been impeding progress.   I have also taken a hard and honest look at my weaknesses.  We are only as strong as the weakest link in the chain.  I’ve overlooked or ignored some points in my own training that have also been contributing to letting my weaknesses only get weaker.

A real honest appraisal of training is hard to do.  Let’s be real, none of us actually enjoy looking at the things we suck doing.  It’s much easier to turn to the things we’re good at doing and hope that they will be enough to carry us through.  Maybe in our early stages of training, that would work.  The further along we get and the older we get; our strengths can only carry us but so far.  Doing an honest appraisal of our training and taking in a real account of where our weaknesses are, is never easy.  It’s frustrating to see those things.I hope you get frustrated.  I hope that you take the time to stop and assess your training.  I hope that you can see those areas that can use improvements.  I hope that your training means something to you.  I don’t want anyone to be frustrated for the sake of being frustrated; I want everyone who trains to have an understanding that when you care for your training, it won’t always be sunshine and rainbows.  And that’s OK!  My training still has meaning, I still enjoy being in the gym, and I’m looking forward to finding the next source of frustration.

Check out more of Will’s writing by clicking HERE.  Need advice on how to quell that frustration?  Check out the PRS Advice page and as your questions to our subject matter experts.