04. They’re allowed to ask why
If I’m asking athletes to work hard, I owe them an explanation of what we’re trying to accomplish.
“Why?” is a reasonable question. I don’t need to treat it as an attempted coup.
What is this workout for? How does it fit with what we’ve been doing? What should they pay attention to?
They don’t need a physiology lecture before the warm-up. They do deserve an answer that makes sense.
I want athletes who understand their training, ask questions, and learn to make decisions. Eventually, they’ll be running without me standing there. I’d like them to take some understanding with them.