The Mindset of a Successful Athlete
Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to make contact with and visit with a number of high end athletes. For all of them I had the same question "When you are in the middle of a workout, what goes through your mind?" I got a variety of responses. and would like to share them with you:
Strange but True: One individual thought about everything from what they had for breakfast, to the weather, to how bad they smell and on and on. For them that method allowed them to cope with the pain and endure what it was they were doing to continue to push forward and not stop. The simple act of diverting attention away from the cause of discomfort is what they needed. For them movement was rote and natural so they did not have to focus on whether they were doing it right or wrong, but rather just not think about what it was they were doing.
Cues: Another very successful athlete broke everything into cues. Cues that would keep them moving. For example in burpees when it gets tough their cue is to tell themselves "put your hands on the ground" Cues are hugely successful when trying to keep from stopping. A simple cue to initiate the movement and the rest takes care of itself.
The Count: Counting and focusing on what you are doing and getting to the end. Counting in big numbers or breaking it into small doable numbers are huge for the continuation of movement. Large numbers can sometimes seem insurmountable, but when made small success seems so much closer.
The Blackout: This is my favorite and what I try to do all the time. Think of nothing. Period! Just move and don't stop moving. Devoid of emotion, pain or anything else. These people exist in a bubble that for however long the workout takes, nothing can touch them.
WHAT IS IT YOU THINK ABOUT IN YOUR WOD'S? POST TO COMMENTS.
WOD
5 rounds for time
5 Hang Clean Guys @ 135 Gals @ 95
10 Burpee Box Jumps
4 comments:
I like the self-cue idea; it's something I do myself, usually when I end up talking to myself during a WOD solo at 1PM :)
I also like counting backwards---mentally, it seems easier,because the numbers are "getting smaller".
Fractioning larger numbers into smaller ones. i.e. 21 into 3 sets of 7, smaller numbers definetly help me out. Sometimes on long AMRAP's I'll try and zone out by fixing my eyes on something on the wall and just letting the mind wander. For me differently layed out WOD's have different mental needs.
Heather
Seano I've definatly seen your zone out method work wonders for you. Your Conquest shirts are at the gym on the computer montior. Thanks for supporting Conquest and the larger "Crossfit" community
I find that 'chunking' my workouts help a lot...
For example:
a wod that consists of (in part..say)
30 pull ups - i break them down into 3 groups of 10 or 2 groups of 15. Once i acheive that number its nothing but positive self talk from there... '15 left - is like butter - easy!'
Making it sound easier than in is - always seems to help soften the blow... the hands still bleed the same, but if its easy in the mind - its all money baby!
Did that make any sense at all??
lol
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