The Psychology of Finishing Strong in Triathlon Races
What’s the most difficult part of a triathlon for you? Few people will say the beginning because they are excited and full of energy at the start of the race. Some say the middle of a race, particularly those doing 70.3s and Ironmans, because they’ll have been out on the course for several hours, are […]
Read MoreUnpack Your Emotional Baggage
In my last article, I explored the powerful influence of your emotional baggage on your life; it’s harmful effects on your happiness, relationships, and the pursuit of your life goals. Your response might be: “Okay, I now understand where my emotional baggage came from and how it affects me. But how do I unpack my […]
Read MorePsychology of Swimming on Effortless Swimming Podcast
I was recently interviewed for the Effortless Swimming podcast by its founder and host, Brenton Ford. In the podcast, I talk about how the mind impacts swimming comfort (especially in open water) and performance. I discuss confidence, intensity, focus, and fear, and offer lots of practical tools you can use to swim with greater confidence […]
Read MoreNice Article about Mental Training Among Elite Athletes
I was recently interviewed for an article in Outside magazine on the growing role of mental training among elite athletes. The article provides a nice overview of why elite athletes are seeking out mental coaches and sport psychologists. It also describes who these professionals do and what separates those who are qualified from those who […]
Read MoreHow Emotional Baggage Starts Out Functional, Then Becomes Dysfunctional
The term “emotional baggage” has become an entrenched part of the personal-development culture. Emotional baggage is typically described as unresolved emotional issues from our childhood, including acute trauma, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, ongoing stressors, family dysfunction, and other negative experiences, that shape our attitudes, emotions, and behavior, and detrimentally influence our current lives. Moreover, […]
Read MoreFour Keys to Lionel Sanders’ Recent Ironman Success
Yes, Kristian Blummenfelt won the 2021 Ironman World Championships in St. George, Utah recently (I know, it’s 2022; how absurd is that!), a truly impressive performance given that this race was only his second Ironman-distance race ever. At the same time, I would argue that the biggest winner of the event was Lionel Sanders. Lionel […]
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