The disciplined times
If you’d asked me nine years ago what the “right” way to train was, I would have said discipline. No hesitation. Preparing for a half-Ironman taught me how powerful structured training can be. For six months I lived like a very organised amateur: 3-4 short runs a week, 2 strength sessions, bike commuting to build mileage, one long ride on the weekend, and just enough swimming to maintain my strongest discipline. It wasn’t always easy, but it was efficient. With limited time and three sports to balance, discipline wasn’t a choice, it was a necessity.
Why discipline works so well
And it worked. My running improved slightly, my cycling improved significantly, and I crossed the finish line feeling proud and surprised by how much progress I made with a relatively small time budget. That experience convinced me that consistency is the smartest route to better performance. It reduces injury risk, prevents overtraining, and stops you from burning out in a given sport. Practicing discipline in sport also helps prove to yourself that you can commit, stick to something, and build something meaningful over time in other parts of life.
When joy took over
But here’s the twist. I haven’t done a half-Ironman since.
Not because I hated the structure. Not because it was too much. Life simply shifted. After the race, I had a backlog of planned trips and weekends away. The natural result of months spent protecting training time. On one of those trips I tried surfing for the first time and fell in love with it. Suddenly swimming wasn’t about triathlon efficiency, but about catching waves. Later, bouldering arrived, and for a few years it became all-consuming. I climbed several times a week, built a tiny bouldering wall at home, and only dialled it back when my fingers started hinting that they did, in fact, have limits.
Why joy matters too
During those years I still ran, swam and cycled, just not in a structured way. And I didn’t mind. I was following what felt fun. Looking back, I could easily argue that this was the “right” way to do it too. When you follow joy, you stay in the sport longer. When it excites you, you don’t need motivation. When you’re genuinely enjoying the movement, progress often happens naturally.
Caught between two truths
So now I have two clear truths that don’t quite point in the same direction:
- Discipline works. It produces measurable progress, protects your body, builds confidence.
- Joy works. It keeps you engaged, curious, and excited to move.
Where’s the balance? I honestly don’t know.
How I ride now
Right now, joy riding wins most of the time. I love hitting mountain bike trails with no plan, heading out on the road to explore, riding with my girlfriend or friends just because it’s sunny. I know what I should do to become a faster cyclist, more structured intervals, more recovery discipline, but the moment the weather is perfect and the forest is calling, the plan evaporates instantly.
And yet, part of me wants structure again. I’ve been thinking about signing up for my first-ever cycling race next year. Something that might nudge me back into that disciplined mindset, just to see what’s possible. Maybe the balance will tip again.
How about you?
Do you lean more toward strict plans or spontaneous riding? Have you found a rhythm that lets you enjoy cycling while still improving?
