Coach's Comments
Date: Jul 05 at 6:49pm | Posted in: Alan Pittman
Change the way you see yourself
We have to be very careful with our self talk. Others will notice what we're saying out loud, but only you'll know what the little voice inside is saying. Little things like "I always get off the bike in a good position, and wait to get run down". Or "If I only was taller, I'd have a longer stride and would be a faster runner". I've heard athletes make both of these statements. In both cases neither of them realised they were talking themselves down.
Your subconcious mind hears everything you say. It's a bit like saying "I'm a big guy, big guys can't run fast, the smaller lighter guys are always faster". Or "If only I'd started this earlier, I could have been good at this". Well I know a 90kg guys who has run a 3.40 Ironman marathon, off a 5hr bike. I also know a man, who bought a Trek carbon time trial bike at 65yrs when he sold his business interests to focus on his triathlon. In Port MacQuarie this year he won his age group (70-74) by 2hrs 30min. Imagine if he'd started earlier.
If you're not a good swimmer, you'll never become one with a defeatest attitude. If you're not a good runner, you'll never become one by talking yourself down.
The mind controls the body - nod your head if you agree with this.
The body controls the mind ???
If you make a positive effort to only practice perfect technique in any sport - I mean practicing running drills every day of this year - you will start to feel like a runner - a short run in the park with run drills which encourage a light foot placement right under your hip, the right body alignment, loose hands and a tall posture. Over a few months anyone can become a much better runner than they presently are. I'm talking a reduction in your Ironman run split of in some cases more than an hour.
Over a few months you will change the way you talk to yourself, you'll change the way you see yourself. It's amazing how much talent you uncover when you practice often.
Allan Pitman