Maybe you think it would be like a video game. Level up, gain experience points, unlock new abilities, and just keep progressing in a nice, orderly fashion. Especially in sport. You put in the work – the hours of training, the focus on nutrition, the dedication to recovery – and surely, the results should follow, right? Like plugging numbers into an algorithm and getting a predictable output.

But let me tell you, my own journey in sport has been anything but a straight line. And maybe yours has too.

There have been incredible highs, moments where it felt like I was flying. PBs tumbled, races went better than I could have dreamed, and I felt that surge of confidence that comes from seeing hard work pay off exactly as you’d hoped. Those are the times you think, “Okay, I’ve got this. This is the system, and it works.”

And then, the rug gets pulled out from under you. For me, it’s been unexpected injuries that stopped me in my tracks just when I felt fittest. Plateaus that lasted for months, where no matter what I changed in my training, the numbers just wouldn’t budge. Races where, despite feeling great in the warm-up, everything fell apart on the day. Each setback felt like a personal failure, a glitch in the algorithm I thought I was running. I’d get frustrated, question my dedication, and sometimes, honestly, just feel like giving up.

It’s in those low moments, though, that I’ve started to truly understand that sport development isn’t about being a perfect machine. It’s about being human. We have good days and bad days. Our bodies respond differently at different times. Life intervenes, with all its unpredictable demands and stresses.

Over time, I’ve learned to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. That frustrating plateau? It forced me to go back to basics, to refine my technique, and ultimately, to build a stronger foundation than I had before. That unexpected injury? It taught me the importance of listening to my body and the value of patience and consistent rehabilitation. Even those tough race days? They were lessons in mental resilience and the ability to perform when things aren’t going perfectly.

These aren’t just roadblocks; they’re actually crucial parts of the path. They add depth to your experience, build character you didn’t know you had, and make the eventual triumphs even sweeter. When you’ve had to fight through adversity, achieving a goal feels incredibly meaningful.

So, if you’re feeling frustrated because your progress isn’t following a neat, upward curve, please know you’re not alone. You’re not an algorithm that needs debugging. You’re an athlete on a dynamic, sometimes messy, often surprising journey. Embrace the setbacks as much as the successes. Learn from them, adapt, and keep moving forward. Trust that all these experiences, the highs and the lows, are shaping you into a more complete, resilient, and ultimately, a better athlete and person. It’s not always straightforward, but that’s what makes the journey so rich and rewarding.