Myles’ challenge: month three - when the challenge gets real (and doubt creeps in)

I’m now in month three of my challenge, and the novelty of a big challenge has worn off somewhat. Now I’m deep into the reality of it: week in, week out training; the mental ups and downs; and the bits that don’t make it onto Strava. 

A small ankle issue crept in recently. Nothing dramatic, but enough to mean missing a long run and a trip to the physio to figure out what was going on. It’s the sort of thing that, on paper, looks like a minor blip. In reality, it can knock your confidence more than you’d expect. When you’ve put in months of consistent work, even a slight injury has you thinking, “Is this where it all unravels?” 

Injuries, interruptions and staying consistent

That’s probably the biggest lesson this month: managing that moment when doubt creeps in It’s easy to stay motivated when everything’s going well, when the sessions are being ticked off and the numbers are improving. It’s a different story when something interrupts that rhythm (and that perfect training plan!). I’ve been focusing on controlling what I can: getting the right advice, adjusting the plan, and keeping moving forward. 

There’s a decent parallel here with work, I think. From the outside, people tend to see just the visible outputs: the meeting, the finished project, the end result. What they don’t see are the early starts, the late finishes, or the time spent sorting out issues behind the scenes. Training is no different. A five-hour ride on a Saturday might be the headline, but there’s a fair bit wrapped around it: planning nutrition, maintaining equipment, recovery work, physio exercises. None of it glamorous, all of it necessary. 

Staying the course

Interestingly, alongside the doubts, there have been moments where things just click, and I’m actually enjoying it! Training, for me, has always been more about the outcome than the process, but those small moments do help balance things out. 

So, April has been about perspective… A slight injury, a bit of doubt, and the realisation that there’s still a long way to go, but also a reminder that setbacks are part of the process, not the end of it. The focus now is simple: keep things steady and consistent so I can concentrate on the next milestone… I’m returning to the Canary Islands next month to compete in the Lanzarote Ironman. Come back next month to see how my final preparations are going…  

Author biography 

Myles Hall, Learning and Development Advisor, FACT3