The amount of physical work a young athlete can handle will be unique to the individual and depend on factors such as age, physical development, training background, and work ethic. All must be taken into account in arranging a training program for an event as rigorous as the decathlon. Please remember to build recovery and rest (track's R&R) into the training schedule. It makes no sense to do a workout so strenuous that you are unable to train the next day.

Successful decathlon performance is a balanced effort. Therefore, balance in decathlon training is an ideal that needs careful and diligent planning. Decathlons are rarely won with one or two terrific events. They are certainly lost by one poor one. Balanced training requires a long-term commitment. After all, training for many of the decathlon events cannot take place simultaneously. The shot put, with its focus on power, and the 1500-meter run, requiring endurance, demand different types of training. The world's best shot putter does not need much endurance training. Conversely, developing endurance capacity does not require shot put drills. However, to become a multi-event athlete, some of both forms of training are desirable. Balance in training seeks a compromise between the two.

Perfect balance, though, is not the goal. For example, receiving the same number of points in each event is not a winning decathlon strategy. Scoring the maximum number of points is the goal. Remember the goal and don't lose sight of it. To better understand balance in training, consider the following potential "disaster events." Spills are frequent in the hurdles. Occasionally, decathletes fail to clear the opening height in the pole vault. It is not uncommon for the discus to land outside the sector in all three throws. All three instances result in a zero score. The first priority in training, then, should be to practice for dependability and confidence in these events, even though other events might be weaker.