1-28-21: Introducing the Venn Diagram for Training Feedback Loops

Sent 1/28/2021

Today's Think Better Newsletter follows up last week's...and introduces the Venn diagram of training feedback loops!

The Idea

Last week's newsletter introduced the three most important words for understanding a positive feedback loop: Quality, Recovery, and Consistency. I then extended the idea with a more detailed blog article

This week I'm going visual. We're Venn diagramming this mofo.

Feedback loop Venn diagram - consistency, recovery, quality

So what kind of runner are you?

A: The Leaper: You've found the sweet spot. The more days and weeks in a row that you maintain your Quality, Recovery and Consistency, the more likely you are to make a massive leap. Keep up the great work!

B: The Cruiser: You're out there everyday doing the work, but it's not purposeful work centered around a strong training program. Your approach works for keeping it fun and healthy, but you won't be achieving any big goals. If you could just be a little more ambitious...

C: The Grinder: You show up everyday and do great work. But you can't turn down the intensity and your lack of discipline outside of practice constantly sets you up for injury and burnout. If you could just rein yourself in and trust the process...

D: The Sparkler: You shine brightly when you shine, and occasionally you really pop in a race. But unfortunately, that shine comes and goes too quickly. Your bursts of high quality work keep you competitive and mostly fit, but far from achieving your potential. Everyone can see there's more there, if you just put it together...

The System

These are more strategies than systems, but here's a tip for each type of runner:

If you are a Cruiser and want to improve your quality, engage more. This means reading more, asking more questions, and getting more informed. Find a coach or mentor. Make sure each workout has a purpose. If you don't know what it is, maybe it doesn't have one. Don't do workouts with no purpose.

If you are a Grinder and want to recover better, make yourself an 80% rule. Whatever you would normally do, stop at 80% of that amount. That might be 80% quantity on a long run or 80% intensity in a workout, or 4 reps instead of 5. Since recovery is your challenge, limit how much you have to recover in the first place.

If you are a Sparkler and want to be more consistent, reduce the external forces that affect your training. It's almost always non-training related distractions that drive inconsistency. Find a way to align your life more, and you will find your consistency improving by default.

The Question

What is the smallest change you can make to help you get better? 

 

Go Be More,

Bryan Green
Author of Make the Leap: Think Better, Train Better, Run Faster and the companion Think Better Workbook
Co-host of the Go Be More Podcast

"Getting up and drawing a Venn diagram is a great way to appear smart. It doesn't matter if your Venn diagram is wildly inaccurate, in fact, the more inaccurate the better"
- Sarah Cooper (comedian)

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