While I talk extensively about training and performance in this column, it stands to reason that all of us have barriers to effective training: otherwise just about anyone could be an elite athlete. While some of the barriers we can come up against are tangible things: living far away from trails or terrain that suits what we are training for, lack of racing opportunities, lack of time, lack of family or school support or inadequate equipment; the other side of this is the very real mental barriers and unhelpful mindset traps that derail athletes, diminishing their ability to reach their own goals. We check out a few common ones below, can you relate?
1. IF I CAN’T HIT MY TARGETS ONE DAY, MY TRAINING IS RUINED
This is typical black and white thinking, and is rife throughout athletic populations. ‘If it’s not perfect, it’s useless’.
