Build for the Climb Ahead

2 Minute Read

Focus on outcomes, and we'll make short-sighted, unsustainable decisions.

Focus on inputs, and outcomes happen naturally.

Outcome Thinking vs. Input Thinking

Outcome-based Thinking  

It's really easy to think training is about doing more. More miles. Faster miles. More intensity. And, to be fair, that’s part of the deal. This is how we measure success, and we'll just have to live with that.

But, it's outcome based thinking.

Outcomes are visible. They feel more measurable. They look impressive on a watch. But when we make decisions based on outcomes alone, we make mistakes. We increase volume because it feels like progress. We add intensity because it feels productive. We push timelines because we want to get results faster.

And, as a result, training becomes unstable. Outcome-based thinking leads to short-term decisions. We optimize for what looks like progress right now, instead of what actually builds sustainable progress over time. 

We all want outcomes. But we need to shift focus, to what actually determines outcomes in the first place: the inputs.

Input-based Thinking  

Input-based thinking is different. It's asking: what do I need to do today, tomorrow, next week, that would make the outcomes I want inevitable? 

Instead of just chasing increases, we stabilize the behaviors that make increases possible. We focus on repeatable volume. Clean recovery. Durable consistency.

Focusing on inputs doesn't always look impressive.... at least not right away. We make the unremarkable decision today, that protects long-term growth. This means sticking to our plan: run the comfortable pace, holding our volume steady long enough to truly own it. 

When the foundation is built, increasing volume doesn’t feel like a leap. It becomes, literally, inventible. 

That’s what it means to be build for the climb ahead. We don’t just jump to the results we want. We prepare for it.

Base, Build, Peak

To shift towards input-based thinking, it's helpful to have a high-level understanding of training cycles. 

Base → Build → Peak

Base is where we establish durability. It’s where we build aerobic capacity, and the ability to train consistently with ease. In the name of honesty, sometimes this phase can get boring. But that’s kind of the point. The goal is not to impress ourselves. The goal is to become harder to break.

Build is where we start layering more specific stress. More volume, more intensity, more structure. It's adding volume on the base we built. We prepared for it. We built for the climb ahead. But it can only works when the foundation underneath it is stable.

Peak is where we express what we built. It’s not where fitness is created. It’s where fitness shows up. This is your peak volume a couple weeks before race day, and then race day itself. 

Understanding this training arc is helpful to shift from out-come based thinking to input-based. What phase are we in right now? How do I absolutely nail this phase, the way it's supposed to be done? That's what'll set us up for a successful tomorrow. 

Wrap It Up

Outcomes are nice, but it's not what we should be making decisions based on. Inputs are less sexy, but is what ultimately determines outcomes in the first place.

When we focus on increasing too early, we introduce instability. When we focus on building capacity first, progression happens almost automatically.

And with this mindset, we build a routine we love and train consistently.