As a performance coach I have seen mostly women, learn to focus, expel their nagging doubts and excel at a sport or activity they never felt they had a chance of winning. My clients have surprised themselves in what they could achieve, whether it was gaining confidence riding their horses, then going on to win dressage events or playing mixed doubles in Tennis and winning the tournament. When I used to high jump at school, I was in the top three athletes, and without even knowing what I was doing, would close my eyes, relax and visualise the sport where I would jump. As I ran for that spot everything else – all the noise of the crowds – would melt away.
In any kind of performance it’s being able to lower one’s anxiety and focusing on the job in hand. Being able to visualise the positive outcome. Once learnt, it’s a resource that you can use in all areas of your life. Take my runner Jo, she broke her leg during a marathon last year, but when it came back to train again, she just couldn't. It was December, the weather wasn't good, she was commuting 2 hours each way each day. A tough one, but when I explained how the mind works and that to achieve her goal, she had to reorganise her schedule, she set forth determined. Managed to work 2 days from home, lowered her stress, made it easy for her to run at lunch time and off she went. Within 6 weeks over Christmas and New Year she was out running again. Training for the Bristol 10K. That was last week, and yes - she ran and didn't injure herself this time.
