Results or Excuses: Pick a Lane (And Make It the Fast One)

Let’s have a little heart-to-heart, athlete to athlete.

There’s a quote I love that cuts through the noise like a well-sharpened chainring: "You can have results or excuses. Not both."  -Arnold Schwarzenegger

Oof. That one stings a bit, doesn’t it?

But here’s the deal, it’s true. And coming from Arnold, Mr. Olympia, action hero, and governor of California, you know he didn’t build biceps the size of small children by sleeping through his alarm or skipping leg day because it was “a little cloudy.”

As a coach, I hear the excuses all the time:

• “I didn’t have time.”

• “It was cold.”

• “My watch was dead.”

• “Mercury was in retrograde.”

• “I couldn’t find my favorite socks and it threw off my whole vibe.”

  
  

And look, I’m not trying to shame anyone—we’ve all made excuses before. I’ve personally skipped training for all sorts of terrible reasons. ( Ali can probably fill you in on the best ones)

But here’s your tough love moment: Excuses don’t get you fitter. Excuses don’t cross finish lines. Excuses don’t land you on the podium, or help you feel strong and capable when things get hard.

You say you want to PR your next 70.3, but your long ride got “accidentally” replaced with brunch and Bloody Marys. I’m not judging...I’m just saying mimosas don’t count toward your power output (even if they’re carb-loaded).

You want to get faster, stronger, more confident? Awesome. That’s what I’m here for. But that means showing up—especially when it’s inconvenient. Because results live on the other side of your comfort zone. Excuses? They hang out in your cozy little cave of “maybe next week.”

Let’s be real: You already know what you need to do. You’ve got the training plan. You’ve got the tools. You’ve even got the talent. But talent without consistency is like a fancy bike that never leaves the garage—looks nice, doesn’t go anywhere.

So the next time your brain starts crafting the perfect excuse for why you can’t hit that session… Ask yourself: Do I want results, or do I want to get really good at explaining why I don’t have them?

Pick one. Train like it.

 If this post lit a fire under your tri suit, good. That’s what I’m here for.

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 *Time Trial Tuesday posts are intended to be short primer posts to get you thinking, but they are also challenges for myself to see how quickly and simply I can get the topic across to all of you. I give myself 15 minutes on the clock to write each one. No filter, No editing, Just the thoughts in my head..... Scary.

About Nick Farr

Nick is the owner and Head Coach at P3 Fitness and has been a dedicated triathlete and runner for over 20 years. With a passion for endurance sports, Nick brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his coaching, specializing in triathlon, running, and cycling. As an accomplished athlete and certified multi-discipline coach, he has guided countless athletes to reach their personal bests and achieve their goals. In his role as a Triathlon coach at P3 Fitness, Nick is committed to helping each individual unlock their full potential through tailored training programs and expert guidance.