Opinions wanted!

[hannahb]

Got in a discussion with my husband the other day about whether you should focus on your strengths or your weaknesses. I'm going to use my running as an example. I have no finishing kick whatsoever no matter what the distance. His take was if I did more plyometric work this would get better. Now I did this in college and maybe it helped a little but not enough to make a huge difference. I argue that I should focus more on tempo runs and more endurance strength (what I'm better at). I think I can make my strengths stronger but will always be weak in my weaknesses. What do you all think?

[joenali]

Weakness. During ironman training I has to focus in my running and biking, my two weakest sports. My strength is swimming, so if I had to miss a workout or shorten a workout I would dip into my swimming bank. Most people have to put in a lot of focus on their swimming because it is their weakest.

[blndsnbrdr]

I agree with Sadle joenali in terms of the IM/tri.

But with your example I'm inclined to say focus on running every other aspect of the race strong so you're not depending upon the finishing kick. Besides, IMHO with running, when you'll be more successful with your training (and mental game) when you're able to focus on and strength what you are already solid at and enjoy doing.

ETA: switched sadle to joenali - my bad, I immediately think sadle when cycling is talked about!

[sadlebred]

I ride my bike; therefore, I ride my bike more!

In cycling they say to work on your weaknesses. I have been doing it long enough that I know what I'm good/not so good at. I hate climbing, so I don't climb much. I prefer to stick to rolling/slightly hilly/flat-as-you-can-get-in-Atlanta routes on the road and mtb. I go to the mountains a few times a year for something different and to work on said climbing.

[joenali]

sadlebred I used to loathe hills, but after riding hilly course after hilly course, I can say I'm a lot better! I can actually pass people lol!

[zoidberg]

I try to work on my weaknesses.

[clseale]

I try to work on weaknesses, while finding a balance that allows me to not neglect my strengths. Example: If comparing speed & endurance, speed is my weakness. I can knock out mile after mile, but I need/want to get faster. At the same time, I definitely still need to build endurance when training. I could go to the track and knock out 400s, 800s, etc. Instead, I'm doing things like 12 miles w/7 @ tempo, 10 miles w/5x1000s, 9 miles w/10x100s, etc. Basically, I'm building speed into my endurance runs.

I think there's probably more room to improve with your weaknesses, so it's a disservice to completely neglect them. They will likely always be your weakness, but they can still be improved.

[Susie]

I work on my weaknesses, because - to possibly be arrogant - my strengths don't have a ton of room for improvement. In tri's, I would have to pour hours and hours and hours and hours a week into swimming to improve my swim split a little more. I might improve my HIM swim split by a minute, say from 30 mins to 29. If I spend the same number of hours on the bike or run instead, while swimming enough to maintain, I could still do a 30 minute swim, but I might drop 10 minutes off my run, or 10+ minutes off my bike split. Obviously I'm way better off spending that time on my weaknesses.

[joenali]

Dec 23, 2013 15:02:40 GMT -5 Susie said:

I work on my weaknesses, because - to possibly be arrogant - my strengths don't have a ton of room for improvement. In tri's, I would have to pour hours and hours and hours and hours a week into swimming to improve my swim split a little more. I might improve my HIM swim split by a minute, say from 30 mins to 29. If I spend the same number of hours on the bike or run instead, while swimming enough to maintain, I could still do a 30 minute swim, but I might drop 10 minutes off my run, or 10+ minutes off my bike split. Obviously I'm way better off spending that time on my weaknesses.

Well said. I agree!

[gt7301b]

I think sometimes when you focus on your weaknesses they become your strengths. I am the opposite of you, I used to have a kick a$$ finishing kick. Why? Cause I wasn't pushing myself hard enough during the actual race. Now that I am running faster 5Ks it is really hard for me to push it like I used to at the end of a race.