In our previous post, we explored how understanding your values is a powerful step toward athletic success. Among the most critical values an athlete can hold is honesty—not just with others, but with yourself.
Honesty isn’t just about telling the truth. It’s about being real with yourself in the moments that matter most. The moments when it’s easy to pretend the effort was enough, or that missing a session won’t make a difference. The moments when excuses are tempting and accountability is uncomfortable.
Self-honesty: Where performance truly begins
True progress starts when you can look in the mirror and call things as they are. Did I really give that session my all? Am I prioritising rest and recovery—or just going through the motions? Am I skipping my strength work because I’m tired, or because I don’t value it?
These internal conversations matter. They shape the quality of your training, your mindset, and ultimately, your results.
Being honest with yourself builds clarity. It helps you recognise what’s working and what isn’t. It creates a foundation for better decision-making, stronger habits, and a mindset of growth over ego.
Honesty with others: The power of trust and teamwork
In a coaching relationship, honesty is a game-changer. It allows your coach to support you in the way you actually need—not the way they assume you do. That means being upfront about your mental state, your motivation, your niggles, your challenges outside the bike.
It also means giving and receiving feedback with openness. When honesty flows both ways, trust builds. And trust is what allows for real transformation.
When honesty is hard, it’s probably important
The truth is, it’s not always easy to be honest—especially when it challenges our self-image or feels like admitting weakness. But it’s in these moments that honesty becomes most powerful. Because growth doesn’t come from staying comfortable. It comes from owning the truth and choosing to act on it.
Final thoughts
Honesty isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real. Real with where you’re at, what you need, and what it’s going to take to get where you want to go.
In the end, honesty isn’t just a value—it’s a performance tool. One that keeps you aligned with your goals, accountable to your actions, and open to the coaching that helps you grow.
Stay tuned for the next value we’ll explore—resilience, and how to build it for the long haul.
High Performance Mountain Bike Coach
Donna Dall
My speciality is helping serious and recreational mountain bikers break through plateaus to attain higher levels of performance so that they can get fitter, faster, stronger and win more races!
