My head has been glued to the coverage of US Olympic Trials in everything. I feel that for the US this is the best of the best and inspiration at it’s finest.However, when I think about the pressure to perform at these events I can’t help but think of the other side of the coin- they have done this before, many a time, many a days. So in actuality, they know what to do, how to do it, and when they need to do it. So what separates one athlete from another?

Time and time again during post event interviews the athletes reference “mental focus, toughness, and edge” -I believe to be the ability to manage their perception of the event. To manage the pressure. To manage the expectations. To manage the little anxious voice in your head that say’s “what if?” and flip it to a perception of knowing.

So to all the athletes competing and racing this weekend special shout to Chico Triathlon Club athlete’s at Pacific Crest Triathlons! Remember that you have been here before. You have trained in tough conditions. You have dug deep. You have done the work. You have performed great under pressure. AND You WILL do it again….wonderfully, with grace, grit, and pure heart. 

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Joanna Zeiger Ph.D, 2008 70.3 World Champion:

“Mental toughness is going out to train when your inner self screams not to: it is frigid outside, it is 100 degrees, you are tired, your muscles ache, and it’s too early in the morning or too late at night. You work through these urges to skip the workout and go out there and just smash it. Then you know when race day comes along, you have pushed the limit so when the race heats up you can squeeze out that extra little bit because you have done it before.”