You’ve been training hard for months.  Now the triathlon season is here.  Your race is coming up soon, and you’re feeling anxious, having some doubts about your preparation.  Maybe you’re finding it hard to continue your workouts with summer’s distractions.  Maybe you’re worried and finding it hard to follow your coach’s advice about tapering as you near the race day.

Sports psychology is about taking charge of your thoughts so you can take appropriate action.  Notice what happens to your thoughts and feelings when you think to yourself, “I’m going to go to open water swim practice this morning, but I really don’t want to.”  Notice how the statement affects your mood and motivation.

Now try this: “Even though I really don’t want to, I’m going to go to open water practice swim practice this morning.”  Notice how this form of the statement affects your mood and motivation differently.

Using the words “even though” and changing the sequence of the phrases so you finish with a focus on what action you’re going to take makes a tremendous difference in how the statement affects you.

Here’s a final weeks’ mental toughness preparation tip.

1. Make note of the doubts, worries, fears, etc. that are coming up in your thoughts.
2. Turn them into “Even though …, I’m …” statements.  See some examples below.
   1. Even though I’m afraid I’m not going to finish the swim in time, I’m going to trust my coach and continue my training.
   2. Even though I’m worried that this nagging injury will stop me, I’m going continue my training and plan to race.
   3. Even though I don’t feel like getting up tomorrow morning, I’m going to get up and go for my run.
   4. Repeat these statements to yourself several times until you feel a shift in focus from the doubt, worry or fear to a focus on the action that will support your training and success in your race.
   5. Notice when you create internal statements (or find yourself saying it out loud) that give negative instructions, practice this rephrasing technique, and in a short time you’ll find yourself naturally correcting your thinking and taking charge of your focus and motivation.

Tim Engels, M.A., sports psychology consultant with Mile High Multisport LLC, is a sports psychology consultant and counselor in Denver, CO.  You can contact him at (303) 956-5691 or tim@timspractice.com and find him at www.timspractice.com.