"THE" ANSWER IS HERE: (by Bruce Gottlieb)
there and everywhere. After all, we are all looking for "THE" definitive answer, the one key ingredient, the magic pill, and the silver bullet. Lets face it, in terms of physical talent, we gots what we gots. Hopefully you are smart enough to nurture it to maximize "its" performance to peak ability. Next we combine technical skills. We read our books and follow the sound advice of our coaches. Well, if all athletes are doing this why do some athletes perform a notch above? They have found "the" answer, and they did this because they knew where to look. I will give you a clue; the answer is not outside yourself.
Maximize Your Mental Capacities For Peak Performance. Learn to train your mind. Teach your athletes to focus on microcosms of various techniques. This can become the single most effective mental tool during a race. The pain builds, the obstacle presents itself, the negative thoughts begin to enter, whatever the "detractor" is, we need a tool to defeat it. If we focus on the detracting factor, then "it" has our attention. Negative thoughts and problems can pick up a head of steam quicker than a freight train, and these types of thoughts always lead to defeat. This is because our unconscious process that leads us to failure is based in following the path of least resistance. Are you strong enough to strive for success and overpower this natural self-destructive pattern to reach your goal? Of course you are going to answer this question with "yes I am," but I will contend that unless you practice techniques to overpower that self-destructive tendency then you will not be successful. If we can refocus on something more positive then it will be the positive thought that will have our attention. What better place to put your focus then in what you are doing at the moment. "Be in the moment" is not just a saying that comes from The Peoples Republic of Boulder. It is a thought that has extreme value, and power. Doing what you are doing will always keep you in the moment, and it will encourage conscious intent in the action.
If you have been helping your athletes focus on microcosms of technique during training they can bring that into play during times of distractions on race day. Pain and negative thoughts are distractions from the activity. As one focuses on a piece of technique, then another piece of the technique and so on, soon the mind is preoccupied with performance issues; When the mind is preoccupied with positive performance issues, it cannot focus on the seeds of negative distractions. Then you win; you maximize potential to reach your goal. (You have set goals, haven't you? They are written down aren't they? You have also written an action plan to reach those goals haven't you? Of course you have, because you know that is a prerequisite to obtaining any goal.)
This simple tool really will go a long way to defeating the negative thoughts. Your mind really holds just one thought at a time, although many thoughts race through. You train your quads to perform when requested, so train your mind as well. Racing is not just about heart rate; peak performance is about heart, and soul. Knowing how to regain focus and control does not automatically transpire during a race. It will only happen after you have practiced it. I have my own silly ways of practicing mind control and focusing/refocusing techniques, but what are yours? Make a list. I will get you started. When working out on a machine, I close my eyes and focus on a piece of my movement. As I do that, I feel what is happening, I then visualize what I want it to be, and then I feel the difference. I now combine my visualization with the proper technique and feel the fluidity and synchronicity of the movement. Invariably, as I do this, my movements are smoother, faster, and I am exerting less energy. Try this. Do this with one of your athletes and watch the difference as their form/technique improves.
I recently read an article by Wes Hobson about his Pikes Peak race experience. He stated he lacked some physical training before doing the race, and he mentioned he is now 37 and his body does not have "an endless supply of muscle elasticity," yet he had "the mental capacity to suspend the agony of physical pain to achieve a goal." I highlight this because that single ingredient, the mental capacity, is what allowed him to not only complete the race, but to get a top ten finish.
Another athlete I have the honor of knowing is Kelly Reed. Briefly, she was run over by a dump truck, paralyzed and told she would never walk again. Less than two years later, over 100 MRI's and 4 operations, Kelly recently raced and got 12th in pro women in the Chicago triathlon. You tell me how she did this. Do the words mental tenacity come to mind? By the way, I recently read something Kelly wrote and she honored the words of one of her encouraging friends. These words were, "remember to always enjoy life." Another tip from the Brucester; if you are not enjoying yourself, why are you doing what you are doing? Having mental toughness can also be an enjoyable.
People with a goal; people with drive: People who are clear and in synch with themselves; and people who know how to use their mind to gain control over their bodies are the people you will see at the top of their game. Be at the top of yours. Do what you are doing with conscious intent, and remember to enjoy yourself.
Bruce Gottlieb L. C. S. W. (working with, and fine tuning the minds of professional and Olympic athletes for over 20 years. Learn to maximize mental capacities for peak performance.) Bruce can be reached at brucegott@aol.com
