Peaking. Any athlete knows the importance of peaking. We want to be at our best performance when it is most critical. Peaking is seasonal, though, and it is not a one-time opportunity in life. It is true that peaking can be task specific or circumstantial. Athletes will have a career peak. Individually, we will have personal peaks. Nonetheless, we can always move on to the next opportunity.
Dan Gable advises to “stay focused and peak correctly.” In sport, training, recovery, and nutrition are carefully managed to maximize performance.
Strength and conditioning coaches speak of “periodization”. Periodization refers to the cyclic phasing of training to optimize the adaptation. In life we, likewise, focus on what is most important and maintain a growth plan.
In A Wrestling Life 2, Dan Gable makes repeated reference to his wrestlers claims that they would be better wrestlers if they didn’t have to go to class—if they could wrestle fulltime. In his wisdom, Gable disagrees. Train hard when it is time to train, but there must be time for recovery and the other aspects of life—school, friends, family, leisure, etc. It is important that we have such balance in life.
A well-centered growth plan (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social) is essential to proper “peaking”. Our focus on success requires some time for recovery. Recovery includes planned vacationing, a morning ritual, exercise, socializing, reading, etc. A well-centered growth plan requires a year-around plan.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!