Disappointing Race? Reframe It.

October 18, 2021 8:09 PM

After a big race, professional athletes and amateurs often face the same challenge: how to react when the run doesn’t go according to Plan A, B or C. “I think there is a really powerful shift that we need to make between outcome goals and performance standards,” Ross said. Outcome goals are usually time or place goals. Performance goals can be much more about mentality. “When the day is not your day, we get lost and upset because we are able to recognize that the outcome goal is out of reach. That’s when falling on performance standards is so important. It’s less about the outcome. It’s how you show up.” It’s a concept that Sara Hall took to heart in the days after the Chicago Marathon. She loves being process focused, looking to little victories and identifying the next goal. “Out there, you have to do whatever you can to stay positive, and I did stay positive the whole time,” she said. “That was a win in itself. I told myself I was still in it. I focused on how good my stride felt and how grateful I was to be in the race.”
posted by folklore724 (5 comments total)

I always wonder how Kipchoge survived after London 2020. I mean it hurt me and I wasn't even there. Of course he came back dominant, but that loss must have been so surprising and painful.
posted by Literaryhero at 10:34 PM on October 18, 2021

"It's not whether you win or lose. It's how you play the game."

Article done.
posted by prepmonkey at 4:52 AM on October 19, 2021 [1 favorite]

There are many, many, many reasons that I'm not capable of being a professional athlete. The ability to quiet mental and emotional distractions and completely focus is on the list.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:21 AM on October 19, 2021

Mr.know-it-some, I’m not a pro athlete, but about 7 years ago I decided I was going to move, and move I did. One of the beautiful things about moving is it quiets the mental and emotional distractions. The hardest part is when I slip back into old habits and let exercise slide. The few serious athletes I know are that way because it quiets their minds. I’m sure not every athlete is that way, but my money is on it being true for a large percentage.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2021 [4 favorites]

That's 100% my experience. I go to a separate place (in my home) to engage an activity (weightlifting) that requires my mental focus in a way that is totally different than most other things I might be doing that day.

I don't need to plan anything, produce anything, navigate anyone emotions. I just focus on the task at hand and work. What's even better is that because I'm following my program, that work is very well defined so I don't even need to think about how much work I'm doing, I just look at what's on the paper, load that weight and perform the prescribed movement for the specified number of reps until I'm done and then move on to the next until I don't have any left. Other than +/- a little weight or a rep if I'm feeling especially good/bad that day, I just get to it until it's done.

I think I like it because it's hard but it's not complex.
posted by VTX at 10:15 AM on October 27, 2021