Cheryl's USA Triathlon Life Magazine Article

In the recent summer issue, I address how athletes can mentally "push through the veil of discomfort." See article below. Links to previous my articles and webinars will be available soon.

“And he decided that pain was no valid reason for stopping.” --- Atlas Shrugged
Marathoners describe hitting the wall. Cyclists recount how “the man with the hammer” got them. Many athletes have talent, but not all athletes have the ability to break through the pain barrier. This comes from many hours of training both physically and mentally. The most successful athletes use their minds as allies instead of obstacles.
Last week, one of my clients became concerned in the days leading up to his marathon. “My biggest fear is that I will tank and be struggling to even do 10-minute miles those last several miles, and telling myself that I’m not strong enough,” he said. The first half of the race will be fun and exciting. I will just kind of trot along, thinking about my form, and enjoying the view. But when I start to hurt around the 18-mile mark and beyond, what should I focus on?”
First remember that the proverbial brick wall is really self-doubt. Experience tells athletes what to do and confidence allows them to do it. Confidence is knowing you are mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared so that on race day you can do battle with everything you have. In “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” Don Millman says that “any obstructions you have ever encountered or may ever encounter are the direct result of insufficient or improper preparation.” Almost every difficulty we face can be linked to skipping essential training steps in the past—to a weakness in our foundation.
As we grow weary, war erupts in our mind. The left and right brain hemispheres debate the merits and ridiculousness of this event. The left, logical side insists tentative rewards are not worth the hazards, spotlighting the physical warnings. The creative, image-oriented right side applauds undaunted efforts, spurred forward with visions of the finish banner, cheering spectators and the afterglow of pride.
Before confronting the enemies (pain and self-doubt), I recommend preparing a mental arsenal full of weapons to be used when needed. This should include motivational quotes and music, pictures of inspiring people or places, movie clips from your best previous performances, and vivid images of a strong, successful finish.
Don’t turn your fears into reality by assuming that pain is a given in every race. For instance, many athletes begin looking for the infamous wall at mile 22. This becomes a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. The truth is that many personal bests are set effortlessly by athletes who describe that magical feeling of performing in “the zone.”
Pushing through physical and mental limitations takes time and persistence. It doesn’t magically happen overnight. If realistic and gradual demands are placed on the body it will adapt. Likewise, if the mind is given progressive challenges, it develops in strength. Expand your comfort zone. Learn how to push through the veil of discomfort. Lou Piniella said, “You have to learn how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”


Q: When I don’t think my body can handle the pain and I want to just quit, how do I tough it out?
A: Try not to resist the discomfort, but reframe and redefine what you are experiencing. When you’re running on empty and your quads are screaming, consider these “growing pains” as you are stretched toward your full potential. Instead of focusing on pain that won’t be ending anytime soon, remember the discomfort is temporary. Break challenges into manageable increments. All-out effort speed and hill workouts are ideal for simulating race day. Pay attention to breathing. Breath control is a key factor of emotional control and therefore performance control.

Q: I understand that self-talk plays a big role in successful performances. What can I tell myself those last grueling four or five miles so that I maintain pace?
A: Concentrating fully on one thing doesn’t leave much room for anything else so concentrate on positive mantras. Some of my favorites are: “Pain is just weakness leaving your body”, “That which does not kill us, makes us strong”, “Narrow the gap between what you are and what you want to be”, and “The greatest victory is the victory over ourselves. Remember it’s always too soon to quit.”
Postscript: My client (whose previous best marathon was 4:20) finished the Lincoln Marathon in 3:45, far exceeding his goal to break four hours. Congratulations, Don Mares!

Cheryl joins Joe Friel's Training Bible Program Consultant Team

Cheryl Hart is a Sports Psychology consultant. Her focus is on positive thinking and mental techniques for reaching goals. The proper mind set is essential to peak performance. Peak performance consulting provides athletes with the best chance for reaching full potential in sports and life.
John Post, MD is a Virginia based Orthopedic Surgeon with 26 years of Ironman experience who brings 6 trips across the finish line in Kona to the training table. He has treated and operated on thousands of athletically injured patients making him uniquely suited for the musculoskeletal issues of the endurance athlete. Be sure to check out his blog.
Kelly Cawthorn is a Registered Dietitian specializing in paleolithic nutrition for athletes. Her passion lies in helping people reach their personal goals through nutrition – whether that goal is to optimize athletic performance, achieve weight loss, or general well-being.

Resilency & Mental Toughness

How well do YOU handle adversity?

Join us Friday, February 27, 2009 from 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
University of Louisville: Strickler Auditorium 102
as PAUL ERWAY, Wheelchair Marathoner shares words of inspiration & lessons on courage, faith, & resiliency.

Followed by Cheryl Hart, Sport Psychology Consultant
“What Is This Thing Called Mental Toughness?”

Sponsored by the HSS Department, University of Louisville

Results from first race of the season

Local Sports from The Courier
Monday, June 16, 2008 Flag City triathlon: Mason is fastest to finish
It was the times on the clock, not on his birth certificate, that stood out about Martin Mason's performance Sunday when he won the Flag City Multisport triathlon held at Riverbend Recreation Area. Mason, 45, completed the 1,500-meter swim, 24.8-mile bike ride and 10K run in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 59 seconds. His time was almost 3 minutes better than 25-year-old Thilo Fielder, the runner-up in 2:08.53. Nathan Russell, 36, was third in 2:09.14.

In the Olympic Female Triathlon, former University of Findlay track athlete Emilie Tullis won the overall women's title with a time of 2:24.34. Sara Skilliter was second (2:27.57) and Findlay's Rachel Martinez third (2:31.13).

Two world-class athletes highlighted competition in the duathlon, which substitutes another running event for the swimming competition found in a traditional triathlon.

Cheryl Hart, a 54-year-old sports psychology consultant who earned silver medals in the 2004 World Triathlon Championship in Portugal and the World Duathlon Championship in Belgium, completed the 5K run, 24.8-mile bike ride, and then a 10K run in 2:27.14. She not only won the Olympic Female Duathlon, but would have finished third in the men's event as well.

Cheryl Teams Up With Hoops Athletic Club

Hoops Athletic Club is committed to providing individual athletes and team with the necessary physical and mental skills required for peak performance. To get the extra edge, book Hoops team mental training sessions with Cheryl. This is for all sports, not just basketball. For more information call (502) 693-7443.
OPEN HOUSE JUNE 19, 2008 7-9 P.M.
ENROLL IN HOOPS UNIVERSITY'S NEW MBA MASTER ATHLETE PROGRAM: MIND,BODY,ATHLETICS

Cheryl To Speak at MS Ride Dinner June 7: Frankfort

Bike MS: Bike the Bluegrass is scheduled for June 7 & 8 and features a new route starting at Churchill Downs and ending at Keeneland. There are many route options, ranging from 25 to 100 miles, fully-supported to ensure a safe and fun ride. Cheryl will speak at the overnight dinner in Frankfort
MS affects more than 400,000 Americans and is the #1 disabling disease among young adults in the U.S. This is the chapter's largest fundraising event. They expect to have more than 600 cyclists and raise more than $500,000. Registration is available online at bikeMSky.org. For more information call (502) 451-0014.

What Does Training Bible Coach Adam Zucco Say About Working With Cheryl?

Click Here for Adam's Blog

"Husband, father, coach and triathlete. Partner with Joe Friel in Training Bible Coaching. I love to help anyone with a passion for what they do in endurance events. I surround myself with great people as well as other coaches to provide people with a multiple layered approach to their training and racing. I love learning new things about endurance events, and seeing my athletes reach their goals."

"Cheryl Hart has blown me away. Her ability to make me feel comfortable to talk with her over the phone, relate to me as an athlete and person has been nothing short of amazing. In the past couple of months we have worked together she has been able to quickly and effectively get to the root of some of my issues, all without using the buzz words above.

In a nutshell, her belief is you have to start at the core and work your way out. For us to chase the peripherals around are going to make us very crazy. How I act or react in my events has as much to do with how I deal with several other things in my life. Decisions I make, thought process I have, things I value and items I want to achieve are all related. It is impossible for me to only be good at mental execution in one aspect of my life. By working with me on several components in less then 6 sessions we are making significant progress and she is starting to re spark my love for this sport.

In my blog I try to recognize the greatness of the people around me that I run into. If I did not take a minute to tell you about Cheryl, I would be falling short of my goal."

If you have any interest in Cheryl or the programs she offers you can contact her: http://www.2ndwindmotivation.com/

Posted by Adam Zucco at 12:13 PM 0 comments