How To Find Your Why With Swiftwick Athlete, Amanda Foland

What keeps you going when the going gets tough? Triathlete, certified coach, and personal trainer Amanda Foland shared her insights on finding your “why” - what she considered the most underutilized tool available when training.

Every Journey Is Different

Most of us start our sports on a whim, whether it’s triathlons, races, or just competing against yourself. You may have been intrigued to try the sport because of a friend, a race opportunity you couldn’t pass up, or you were inspired by someone you saw in the media. To keep you going past the initial start-up excited, Amanda recommends finding a “why” that drives you to persevere.

“My why is how I see myself as an athlete.”

To find your why, think about where your passion lies in the sport. Do you like pushing yourself and achieving goals, or do you like the camaraderie of supporting others? How you define yourself as an athlete can help you figure out the driving force behind your passion.

Let Your Why Propel You

No matter how passionate you are about your sport, there are going to be tough times and bad days. Amanda says your personal why is what drives you: “That’s what wakes you up in the morning. That is what drives you to get excited to go hit those intervals, to go do those long workouts. And then those whys and passions are also true when you don’t hit those intervals.” Your why allows you to get back up and try again when you experience hardship or failure, making it an important training tool for any athlete.

What’s your why that keeps you going? Share it with us on social media!