Even though she was skeptical, Wilson started working with mental coachBianca Martin.
I always thought mental work was so phony, she says.
I dont know why I was so anti.
Bianca has a way of making me feel calmer, and more confident, Wilson says.
I knew something was missing, and she was changing that for me.
Wilson is far from alone.
Olympic 800-meter runner
Establishing a routine of mental wellbeing practices has helped many elite athletes in a big way.
It can help you, too.
But these skills are also relevant to non-sport performance situations.
Then she said, Okay, now write the opposite on the other side of the paper.
So I had to counter each thing that I wrote down.
When she was done, Wilson ripped them out of her journal.
It was just really freeing, to get rid of those bad negative thoughts.
Were not always aware of the thoughts were havingor, how those thoughts are truly affecting us.
Sisson credits a simple, yet super-effective mental tool for getting through those tough spots.
Olympic 800-meter runner
Im very task oriented, says Sisson.
Thats really key and important for me.
This skill of breaking things down into smaller pieces is a way of managing that brain response.
This leads to more consistently and more effectively being able to perform at your full capacity.
It didnt come overnight and its still something I always have to work on, she says.
I have a therapist I talk to once a week.
Nikki Hiltzis another track star who reaped the benefits of persistent effort.
This leads to more consistently and more effectively being able to perform at your full capacity.
Emily Saul, LMHC
4.
Its demanding, both physically and mentally.
And she did, winning gold in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials to make her first Olympic team.
Today I will become an Olympian.
Dr. Donohue loves to see it.
or This is my happy place, be present!].
Focus on yourself
The womens 1500-meter final at this years Olympic Trials was one for the ages.
With 200 meters to go, nearly every runner was still in contention.
But it was Hiltz who surged ahead to win, clocking the second-fastest 1500-meter time ever by an American.
Im going to run a race Im proud of.
And by get it done I mean compete for every single spot and run an incredible last 100m.
This is championship racing.
This is what I live for.
I know what going all out that last 100 feels like.
Todays felt like a 6/10 and I ran 4:01.
I am so strong right now.
When I ran 3:59 at PRE I did double thresholds the same week.
I am so speedy right now.
I ran a 2:35 1K two weeks ago splitting 60/65/30 at 7,000 feet.
I can do this.
I have all the tools.
Now its just time to execute.
Go back and reread it.
Nothing about Hiltzs plan is dependent on anyone else in the race.
You cannot control an outcome, especially when the outcome is influenced by other people, Saul says.
Separate skill from self-worth
Leading into a make-or-break race like the Olympic Trials is a ton of pressure.
Only three women make the team in each event.
Im racing literally the best athletes in the entire country.
I really had come to terms with not making it beforehand.
I think that helped me a lot.
And now Im like, no, you really have nothing to lose here.
Reminding myself of that has been pretty important.
Or whenthat achievement happens,thenIll have proven myself…thenIll be enough.
This creates an emotional dynamic of everything being on the line with each performance, Saul says.
But what if you could shift that sequence just a bit?
Theres so much more joy in pursuing your potential when you feel secure about yourself first, Saul says.
Bring others along with you
Heptatlon is a team sport!
Hallwroterecently on social media.
None of this surprises Saul.
Human beings need each other, she says.
We just dont operate best as solitary beings.
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