Some people just like to listen to music and they don’t think of anything else. Others may actually tend to meander with their thoughts and imagination and think of things they need to do, to plan, to book or to prepare for.
I, personally, am all of the above. Sometimes I think of story ideas I would like to pitch to magazines, or training sessions I should implement in to an athlete’s training schedule. Some other days I just don’t think of anything and on the turbo I listen to my classic playlist on You Tube: best of the ‘90s punk rock (simply the best).
However, before each training session I always try to give myself also a psychological goal I’d like to achieve from that single session. And even when I end up thinking about all the things I have scheduled in my life, I try to bring my focus back to my task. The results have been quite astonishing.
When I have a tough set to go through or a dull and repetitive one and my mind flies away, I struggle to keep up to the given power output and speed I am supposed to target for that session. But when I’m in the moment and my attention is completely focused on the physical activity, I manage to keep the pace and power way more easily.
From a psychological point of view, what I really want to get out of my sessions is a profound sense of focus with what I do. I want to become one with the activity I am performing and just be in the flow — that moment of pure perfection where everything is balanced and in the right place.
Have you ever tried to be in the flow? Have you ever planned your training session according to a specific psychological adaptation you would like to get? Have you ever experienced the flow?
I’m sure you have heard of the importance in the mind for endurance sports. Many go as far as saying that the mind is even more important than the body, right? But how should you train the mind to become stronger and gain those skills that will help you in racing and training?
The good news is that you can do it while you train. Every single training session is a small piece of that puzzle and will contribute to train your mind to become stronger, if you put in the right amount of focus and attention. You don’t really need an extra session on top of your already busy schedule, but you can integrate the mind workouts into the main training sessions that are meant to improve tour fitness.
Alternatively, you can also decide to work with a sport psychologist and apply some psychological techniques like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Mindfulness to your training session. And why not, you could even try meditation — if you don’t do that already.
Lat summer I have worked with a sport psychologist for the first time and it was just a fantastic experience. Not only did I learn something about how my mind works in training that I didn’t know, but I also applied the same techniques to my life as a whole, and not only in sports.
When you get close to your thoughts, you look at them carefully and profoundly — and you apply some intention or modification to them (to some patterns in specific situation at least) — the change you will experience will affect you as an individual, and not only as an athlete. Your attitude towards what you do — and the way you look at things — can change quite rapidly and be of the highest benefit.
I you think negatively, you’ll become the result of your thoughts. If you think positively, well, that happens too! So, don’t lose time to look down on your performances and on yourself and find the way to boost to get the most out of what you (in sports and life) with a different mindset. How?
Start in an easy way. The next time you go out for a ride, run or swim, take notes of what you think of and let me know…. I’m here to help!