You’ve heard of hurdler, wait, bobsledder Lolo Jones, right?
This is a woman who will change sports in the name of gold.
Jocks have pie-in-the-sky ambitions that can’t be crushed.
It’s tough to get (and stay) excited about a lackluster achievement.
What that means for you?
Even if you’re just on ramping at CrossFit, make the end game deadlifting twice your weight.
Chances are, you’ll actually do it.
Say you’re Tom Bradywe know, you’d rather be Gisele, but play along.
While the long-term objective doesn’t go away, you have to move the needle every day.
Each victory builds upon the next, helping the team gain momentum.
Gymgoers have a different mind-set.
They see a workout as finite: “Yay, I survived that 30/60/90 class.
I’m done.”
Getty Images (2).
OK, your final outcome isn’t Wimbledon, but your choices matter, too.
You’re tempted to cue up that sixth episode ofOrange Is the New Black.
Ask yourself: What would Sharapova do?
Probably go the hell to bed so she could wake up for 5:45 a.m. boot camp.
Athletes get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Very different from us regular folks who freak out or shut down at any sign of exercise unpleasantness.
“A lot of people panic when they experience any discomfort in their bodies,” says Epstein.
“Elite athletes do the exact oppositethey program themselves not to be rattled.
you’re able to learn to do that just as you do any other part of training.”
You don’t fear the hurt.
Instead of backing off when breathlessness takes hold during a sprint, tell yourself, Relax.
I know I’m going to be fine.
This is not too hard for me, and I can do this.Thentake your speed up one notch.
Your body already knows it can handle the challenge.
You’ve just got to prove it to your brain.
Athletes fantasize about having a stellar performance in future workouts or games, and those daydreams affect their reality.
Take five minutes a day outside the gym to imagine yourself overcoming an obstacle in your workout.
“Imagery is not merely visual; it engages all of the senses.
Pinpoint and mentally play out the ideal scenario for your workout.
For athletes, it’s a package deal: amazing bodies, voices in their heads.
When Spin class starts to wear you down, instead of thinking, Gah, when is this over?
or I can’t go any further, go into cheerlead mode.
It’s who you think you’re not.”
“Pros constantly evaluate themselves,” says Epstein.
Are you running on the treadmill with raised shoulders?
Are you lunging with your knee too far over your ankle?
Line up those joints.
A tiny technique tweak could be all that’s standing between you and greatness.
The best athletes are narcissiststhey obsess over themselves, not the competition.
you’re free to be sure Usain Bolt is not thinking about other people during his workouts."
What if she isn’t pushing herself as hard as you could?
What if she lets up halfway through and that makes you want to quit?
If you only make it a competition with yourself, you’ll always win.
“Remind yourself, Am I a spectator or the one working out?”
You’re working out to be your best.