One of the most rewarding parts of coaching is guiding an athlete to a true breakthrough. Not a lucky day. Not a one-off performance. A measurable, repeatable step forward.
But breakthroughs don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of decisions.
When athletes comes to us seeking the “next level,” the first place we look isn’t motivation or mindset hype. It’s decision-making. Specifically: what decisions are driving their current results?
Before you can create a breakthrough, you have to define the problem clearly. You can’t solve what you don’t understand.
Step One: Choose Simplicity Over Complexity
The first decision we make is this: what is the simplest path forward?
Athletes often assume the answer is more complexity, more intensity.
Rarely is that the case.
More often, the breakthrough decision is about increasing frequency, duration, or overall volume in a controlled way. It might mean adding one aerobic session per week. Extending a long run by 10–15 minutes. Being more consistent instead of more extreme.
Complexity is attractive. Simplicity is effective. Breakthroughs are usually built on disciplined repetition, not dramatic overhauls.
Step Two: Decide What to Subtract
Progress isn’t only about what you add. It’s also about what you remove.
Sometimes an athlete is doing too much that doesn’t directly support their goal. A group session that’s fun but misaligned. A habit that eats into recovery. Extra intensity layered on top of an already demanding week.
We look at where time, energy, and focus are going. Is there something tying up bandwidth without delivering return? Breakthroughs require focus. And focus requires elimination. Every “yes” is a decision. But so is every “no.”
Step Three: Define the Gap
Next, we measure the gap between where the athlete is and where they want to be.
What is the actual distance between current performance and desired performance? Is it 90 seconds in a 10K? Five minutes in a half Ironman? Ten watts at threshold?
Once we define the gap, we can evaluate the variables.
- Is aerobic development sufficient?
- Is threshold underdeveloped?
- Is durability lacking late in the race?
- Is pacing inconsistent?
- Is equipment suboptimal?
- Is race execution flawed?
Sometimes the athlete simply needs time. Development is not always something you can rush. Other times, there’s a clear missing variable. A limiter that hasn’t been addressed directly. A breakthrough happens when we identify that limiter and make a deliberate decision to train it.
Step Four: Identify What Must Be Unlearned
Progress isn’t only physical.
Athletes often carry outdated or misinformed ideas about nutrition, pacing, recovery, or intensity. They hold onto beliefs that once worked or that they assume are true without examining whether those beliefs still serve them.
If an athlete keeps breaking down late in the run, we ask why. Then we ask why again. And again. Often it comes down to inadequate volume, poor fueling, insufficient aerobic development, or a mismatch between training stress and recovery. But we don’t get there without disciplined questioning.
Unlearning is a decision. It requires humility and openness to change.
The Root of the Breakthrough
A breakthrough is not a moment. It’s the outcome of a series of aligned decisions.
- A decision to simplify.
- A decision to subtract.
- A decision to measure the gap.
- A decision to address the true limiter.
- A decision to let go of outdated thinking.
Before solving anything, we define the problem with precision.
If an athlete keeps fading late in races, we don’t immediately prescribe harder workouts. We examine aerobic development, total load, fueling strategy, durability, and race execution. We look at data. We look at patterns. We look at consistency.
Once the problem is clear, the path forward usually is too.
Breakthroughs are built on thoughtful decisions made repeatedly over time. Not on emotion. Not on hype. Not on random changes.
So, if you want a breakthrough, start with this question:
What decision am I avoiding that would move me closer to where I want to be?
Answer that honestly. Then act on it. That’s where meaningful change begins.
If you’re looking for your next breakthrough, let’s explore how coaching can help: reach out!
Keep Reading
- Feeling Stuck? Breaking Out of the Overthinking Rut in Sport
- What’s Holding You Back?
- Mastering Durable Confidence: The Mindset that Matters Most for Triathletes
About the Author
Elizabeth Waterstraat | Founder and Head Coach, Multisport Mastery
Elizabeth Waterstraat is the founder and head coach of Multisport Mastery, with 20 years of coaching experience and 26 years as an endurance athlete. A USA Triathlon Level III Coach, she is a five-time Kona qualifier, five-time Ironman World Championship finisher and 12-time National Champion. She has coached athletes from beginners to professionals and from first-time finishers to world champions, helping them develop the fitness, skills, and confidence to pursue ambitious goals through consistent, purposeful training.
Her coaching philosophy is built on communication, education, and partnership, with an athlete-driven approach that emphasizes the process as much as the outcome. She believes effective coaching requires understanding the individual, maintaining focus on meaningful goals, and finding balance between athletic ambition and the demands of everyday life. Through her coaching and writing, Elizabeth encourages athletes to take ownership of their development, build confidence through knowledge, and create a positive, sustainable relationship with sport.
Read more about Elizabeth, or book a fit call to talk about your goals.
