I’m three weeks out from the USAT Triathlon National Championships in Milwaukee. This is a critical time as big races approach. I’ve been training hard for several months; there’s still a little
time left to build more fitness. And here’s the key part, I’m feeling great, something that I haven’t always been able to say as my “A” races are on the horizon.
I call the space I’m in the Goldilocks Zone. I’m sure you know what I mean because everyone is 
familiar with the fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Their first two bowls of porridge, chairs, and beds were either too this or too that. But the last one was, yes, just right. Training is the same way. There is a balance of volume, intensity, and recovery that stays inside the Goldilocks Zone. How do I know I’m there right now?
- I’m sleeping well and waking up rested.
- My energy is consistently good throughout the day.
- I’m loving my work and I’m crazy productive, even after hard early-morning training.
- I look forward to my workouts.
- I don’t dread the really hard ones, especially those at elevation (where I am more than half
the summer). - I give consistently great effort and embrace the discomfort in my workouts.
- I’m inspired after.
- Even when I’m tired physically, I’m fired up mentally.
- I’m recovering quickly between workouts.
- I like what my training data is telling me.
And the big green flag is that I’m genuinely excited about Milwaukee. After months of preparation, I can’t wait to find out what all of this training will produce on my three race days.
This is also the time when many athletes begin second-guessing themselves. They worry they 
haven’t done enough. They ask themselves, “Shouldn’t I be more tired if I’m working hard enough?” Or they worry they’ve done too much. Both concerns are understandable because there is a fine line between maximizing fitness and digging yourself into a hole that you can’t climb out of before race day.
What every athlete is trying to find is that elusive Goldilocks Zone, what exercise scientists refer to as “optimal training load.” It’s the point where your training volume and intensity are high enough to stimulate adaptation, but not so high that fatigue overwhelms recovery. You’re getting
fitter because your body is responding positively to the stress you’re placing on it. You’re working hard enough to improve, but not so hard that you drift toward overtraining, illness, injury, or burnout.
Right now, that’s where I’m at, and I’m loving it. Ironically, this is exactly the point where many athletes make their biggest mistake.
When you’re feeling great, it’s tempting to think, I’m feeling fantastic. I should add another 
workout. I should ride longer. I should run harder. I should squeeze in just a little more fitness before race day.
Bad idea!
If those thoughts start creeping in, you’re not really listening to your body. You’re listening to your doubts, worries, and anxiety. You’re assuming that because you’re feeling great, you must not be training hard enough.
In reality, your mind and body are telling you something entirely different: I’m feeling great because what I’m doing is working. I’m feeling great because my training and recovery are in balance. I’m feeling great, so keep doing what you’re doing!
One of the hardest parts of training is resisting the temptation to improve a plan that’s already 
producing exactly the outcome you want. Athletes often assume that if some training is good, more training must be better. But physiology doesn’t work that way. Every workout carries both benefits and costs. Once you’ve found your Goldilocks Zone, adding more usually shifts the balance in the wrong direction.
Three weeks before Nationals, I’m not trying to prove how tough I am. I’m not trying to squeeze in one last magical workout that transforms my fitness overnight. My goal is much simpler. Stay
healthy. Stay consistent. Trust the process that has brought me to this point.
The Goldilocks Zone is a wonderful place to be. It isn’t 
flashy. It doesn’t feel heroic. It simply feels right. You’re training hard enough to continue getting fitter, recovering well enough to absorb that training, and building confidence every day toward race day.
If you’re fortunate enough to arrive in the Goldilocks Zone and find that balance, your job isn’t to push harder. Your job is to stay there.