Yang decided, at midlife crisis age, to get into triathlon. His words, not mine.
He didn't ease in. He committed properly from the start.
The problem was he had no idea where to begin. Triathlon has a steep learning curve. Three sports. Three sets of gear. Lots to learn.
His training felt pretty random at first. But that didn't last long. He quickly decided that he needed a coach. That's when he found Coached.
Yang needed a plan, sure. More than that, he wanted a training philosophy that resonated with him. One that connected training, recovery, sleep, food, work stress, and the kids into something that actually made sense.
The training itself felt strange at first. Slower than he expected. It's a strange thing to be told that going faster starts with going easier.
But that's how base training works. First you build the base, then you build on it.
Yang didn't doubt the process. He just had occasional doubts about his own ability to execute the training and perform.
These days, training is swim, bike, run, and the occasional lift. Shorter threshold sets and VO2 sessions blended with longer endurance days. Less wasted training time. Every session has a reason for being there.
He rides more than anything else. Partly because the bike leg is longest in a triathlon. Partly because it's the one he enjoys most.
The results have followed. A first half Ironman to close out year one. A sub two-hour half marathon in year two. A half Ironman PB in year three. Now he is training for his first Ironman.
Ask Yang what matters most though, and it's not the results. It's that he feels like a genuinely healthier person for it.
In his words: "Consistency is king. Progress, not perfection."
