Improve Your Mentality Skills To Become A Champion!

To be a champion in any sport requires a combination of natural ability and mental skills. Both of these attributes have to be developed and honed. You may or may not be capable of winning your sport; people are, however, you can study those that do win. There are key mentality skills a champion must possess. These are just as critical as natural ability which enables it to be identified and handled just as you’ll a physical limiter.

Grace under Pressure

The ability to focus under pressure is a key manifestation of a winner. A winning athlete will not get achieved their game despite outside pressure or stimulus. They remain calm, cool, and collected. In endurance sports, a winner has to objectively strategize in the race without getting emotional. This means knowing when to attack and when you should hold back. Races are fluid situations and strategy should be as well.

Crashes, flats, or inclement weather could be a part of any race but successful will overcome these and continue racing to their best ability. Never quit a race even if it is not going the method that you planned. This is a bad habit to get into your mentality skills.

Most athletes tend to over-pace and burn out, attempting to race beyond their ability. Have a deliberate strategy planned out. Know your pacing parameters, threshold, ability, and race accordingly. Race your race and don’t get pulled off your game unconditionally. Focus on the technique of racing and what is happening in you and near you, not the results.

Learn From Mistakes

A bad race is bad if you do not study it. Race information is some of the most relevant information you’ll be able to gather: this is why it is important to never quit a race. A winner examines race data carefully and adapts and modifies their training to rectify their weaknesses in mentality skills or others.

They do not get discouraged but seek the best questions and answers. They do not make excuses. Was your speed and agility due to bad pacing lack of proper hydration or fueling? Or was it right on target? You should record your splits, speed, heartbeat data, and if possible power and pacing data. Sometimes your racing can be on but your opponent is better than you. If that is true all you’ll be able to do is train harder and smarter for your forthcoming events.

Precision

Winners demand precision. This includes precise training, the right set of mentality skills, the most effective equipment, proper rest and recovery, as well as nutrition preferences to meet their specific demands. The more guesswork you adopt out of these variables, the harder performance you get.

Use every angle to acquire yourself faster. The right pre-race meal, a fresh wheelset, an improved timed recovery drink, an adequately fitted bike, or the right amount of sleep will all help your speed improve. Do not leave almost anything to chance.

No Visions of Grandeur

I always ask potential athletes what they desire to gain from their training. Once a cyclist answers “to win.” On one level it becomes an admirable aspiration but not many athletes can certainly achieve this goal. His experience was minimal and testing indicated he was genetically average, not gifted. He is discouraged he gave his sport up. It is important to set reasonable and attainable goals.

The best are performance-based (I want to increase my next 5k pace by 5 seconds per mile); versus outcome-based (I want to win such etc race). This is one of the crucial mentality skills a champion must possess. Remember that your training dictates your racing, nor expect a massive improvement in performance away from known abilities on race day.

A winner knows his or her capabilities and seeks to formulate them to their maximum potential. He or she doesn’t need expectations beyond what is learned and earned.

Eat Pain

Pain threshold is individualized. Some people can sustain a high level of pain for too long periods. Others don’t have this ability. This is not a character flaw. Hospitals now test patients for individual pain thresholds and modify medications accordingly. What hurts for a few will be discomfort for others. That being said, to be a successful athlete you have to build up a tolerance for discomfort and pain.

This is another one of the critical mentality skills you must develop. A developed sprint athlete will spend their entire race at, above, and slightly below their lactate threshold. This type of tolerance for the pain needs a lot of focus and mental fortitude, not just in races but also in training as well. A winner has the power to consume this pain and persevere.

Get Technical

Random training produces random results whereas specific training produces specific results. Do not be prepared to be faster by putting enough time in. Winners train with purpose and specificity. They seek some assistance and employ the most recent methodologies. They use the very best training technology; heart rate monitors, diet software, power meters, pace meters, and cycling computers.

If you want to obtain fast you have to define your limiters and are available up with a corresponding training plan. Use performance tests to regularly assess training progress. Record and track your entire workout data. Get a good coach that will put this all together for you.

To me, a winner is anyone who accepts the process of developing their mental skills with their true potential. This may mean a podium finish, an age group finish, or a whole new PR. A winner’s mentality skills do not just end with racing but also include many regions of life. It is pride and confidence in utilizing your ability. Improve your mental skills to become a great champion!