As coaches, we're supposed to have all the answers. We're supposed to know exactly what we want, exactly what we're training for, and exactly where we're headed.
The truth is, sometimes we don't.
Lately, I've been wrestling with something that I think a lot of athletes experience but rarely talk about: what happens when you love too many sports?
For years, triathlon was my identity. Long-course racing shaped my schedule, my friendships, and the way I saw myself. And if I'm being honest, part of me still misses it. Part of me still wonders what it would feel like to train and compete at that level again.
That internal conflict is real. When you've spent years pouring yourself into something, stepping away from it can feel like you're leaving a piece of yourself behind. If you've ever felt that pull toward a former version of yourself, you're not alone. Every athlete who has invested deeply in a sport understands that tension.
But over time, I've realized something important: the problem isn't that I love too many things.
I love swimming. I love being on my bike. I love running. Over the last few years, I've fallen in love with HYROX and strength training in a way I never expected. More than anything, I love having goals that challenge me and hold me accountable. That desire to pursue something difficult is part of who I am, and I don't think it will ever disappear.
The struggle isn't loving multiple sports. The struggle is believing that you have to pursue all of them at the same time.
For years, I kept falling into that trap. I'd try to train for endurance, improve my strength, maintain my speed, build muscle, and chase every opportunity that excited me. Instead of making progress in one area, I spread myself thin across all of them. The result wasn't fulfillment—it was frustration.
Because the reality is that when you try to prioritize everything, you end up prioritizing nothing.
I've come to understand that feeling pulled in different directions doesn't mean you're lost. It doesn't mean you've lost your passion or your identity. It simply means that a choice hasn't been made yet.
The key isn't giving up the sports you love. The key is deciding which one deserves your full attention right now, while allowing the others to remain part of your life in a way that supports—not distracts from—your bigger goals.
In the next post, I'll share the decision I made and how I've learned to keep the sports I love in my life without letting them compete for my energy at the same time.