Motivation Series: Developing Mastery in Your Sport
As vaccines become more available and the pandemic continues to die down as a result, we are all looking forward to setting specific event goals again in the near future. But maintaining motivation for our goals can still wane a little in the remaining days of uncertainty that are left. So what do we do?
Surprise, I recommend doing the same thing that I always do: Control the Factors That You Can!
This article I’ll focus specifically on one aspect of what we can control, which is becoming a master of your sport or sports. In this instance, mastery means focusing on the minutia of the activities within your chosen sport.
For example, in cycling, you can focus on several different aspects of your technique to become the best that you can be. This article touches on a few but by no means should be considered exhaustive!
Pedal Stroke
Focus on perfecting your pedaling technique by making high-quality, circular pedal strokes: pull through the bottom of the revolution, engage your glutes, steady your upper body as much as possible, breathe as deep and slow as you can, and develop all of the muscles that require proper execution each portion of the proper technique.
Bike Fit
Get that fit dialed in better than ever before. Sometimes even the smallest adjustment can make all of the difference. Lower back pain? Hamstrings tight? It’s probably a bike fit issue and if you make the time to take better care of yourself on your bike, your bike will take better care of you!
Nutrition
Now’s the time to try new products and potentially different timing strategies that you’ve been wanting to experiment with as well as exploring other options you may have been considering. Look back here for more articles on nutrient timing in the future.
Mindset
Start now, because it takes time and patience to form new thought processes and habits. When you find yourself reaching for old mental patterns such as “not good enough” or “bored” or whatever other automatic negative thought patterns you wish to change, a subtle mindset shift into a more positive one can make all of the difference in the long run. Even if at first it feels inauthentic or potentially even deceptive, just making the subtle decision of shifting over to a better attitude when you catch yourself slipping into your usual patterns sets you up for success in the long term.
If you’d like to tap into your personal motivating factors want to explore working towards mastery, working one-on-one with a coach can get you there. Feel free to check out my other articles and then get in touch with any questions or other curiosities that you have!
Talitha Vogt is a certified endurance and behavior change coach with an elite racing background. She has 22 years of experience as a mountain biker, including 13 total years of racing and other endurance events including Xterra triathlons, innumerable cyclocross races, a little dabbling in road racing, and even some trail running. She provides custom-tailored, accommodating coaching locally in the front range of Colorado and online internationally.