Learn How Dan Used Triathlon Training to Get His Life Back on Track
One of the greatest human challenges is overcoming adversity. When we are put into difficult situations in life, how do we respond? How do we stay on the right path? When life goes down a darker path, how do we regain control? Purple Patch Squad athlete Dan Garrity is a living example of how to take charge of your life, and find a healthy balance of life and sport through lessons brought on by triathlon training.
The Athlete:
Growing up, UK-based Dan Garrity was into sports and very active. He was fit and in shape. He had great healthy habits. However, like so many of us, after university, Dan started a professional career working long hours. Those healthy habits and sporting interests from his formative years were put by the wayside to focus on work.
The Challenge:
Not long after building a career, Dan’s life seemed to come to a head and reached rock bottom. Not only had he become sedentary, but also his lifestyle took a dark turn. One day in the summer of 2019, Dan found himself waking up remembering nothing of what happened the night before, and with a horrendous credit card bill. It shook Dan to his core, leading him down a path of deep self reflection, and threatened his marriage, which Dan valued tremendously.
He found himself feeling empty and missing what he had earlier in life. Dan needed to find a way to rediscover the habits and lifestyle that would help him take control of his life and get back on a productive footing.
The Solution:
Step one in British athlete Dan Garrity’s rediscovery of his sporting mentality and habits was stumbling on the book Fast-Track Triathlete, by Matt Dixon. With the motivation from the book, and support from his best friend, Dan decided to compete in his first sprint triathlon. That was the turning point. Dan caught the triathlon bug, and set on a long-term journey with Purple Patch in 2019.
Dan found his center quickly as a Purple Patch athlete, and learned to control the controllables in his life. He took control of the things that he could control, and allowed the things that he couldn’t to not consume his life. His motivation to compete in Triathlon helped re-establish the sporting mentality that helped him become the best version of himself in sport and life.
The beauty of Dan’s training was that he used the training approaches Purple Patch constantly talks about - such as Nail the Basic and Control the Controllables - and translated these to staple lessons for life.
Purple Patch training helped him stay focused, healthy, and honest with himself. Purple Patch gave him a lifeline, a focus, and some control in his life.
The Results:
Not only did Dan begin to find balance and control in his life, but it provided Dan with the toolkit to challenge some of the world’s greatest challenges. Dan began his journey in 2019. Soon after, the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. Like so many others around the world, it changed his life forever and challenged him like he’d never been challenged before.
When the uncertainty of 2020 hit, Dan relied on his training and mental preparedness to keep him on track and to find a healthier outlet in consistent training, even if short and sweet sessions, all while integrating the lessons of sport into his life. He had a process that could help him keep focused, whereas, before this new journey he would rely on his empty habits that led him to dark days.
Primarily, what Purple Patch helped Dan discover is not just how to ride a bike better or run faster, but Purple Patch helped Dan navigate adversity and inspired him to help inspire others. Dan summarized it the best, “When it feels like the world is falling apart around you, follow the simple rules, ‘Nail The Basics’ and ‘Control The Controllables’.”
Never fall into the trap of isolating your performance journey from life. They coexist and can support each other in helping you thrive across all areas. This is the Purple Patch way.