I was fortunate enough to coach a celebrity chef (Chef Brett Aka: Brett A. Reichler) this year to his first sprint finish in June and we just competed last week together in a sprint. 

During the sprint, I was on my way back during the run when he was starting.  I heard singing and chanting among labored breathing and foot steps.  I look up and I hear yelling at the top of his lungs “Go Coach Greg. Push it you pu#&$&.”  I was rolling.  Then as he passed all you hear is singing.

Sometimes we need to step back from the competition and realize that we should be celebrating that we are able to race just like Chef Brett!

To give you some background on Chef Brett, when I first met him at the beginning of the year he was over 300 lbs.  We started to train together for a sprint tri in June.  He showed up at the race ready and he finished.  He then signed up for the sprint we did last week.  Chef Brett is now down to just over 200lbs and still loosing the weight.

He is doing an olympic next weekend and the NYC Marathon this October.  He approached me in July and asked me if he could do an Ironman.  I said, with what you have been through and your drive, WHY NOT!  He is now signed up for Ironman Lake Placid with a goal of finishing and wants to weighing in at less that 190 at the start line.  

This man is a true inspiration to the sport and I am very proud of him and love when he call or emails me and asks for a team jersey a size smaller.

Sprint Tri in 2 weeks, Olympic in 4 weeks then start Ironman Training for Lake Placid in 2011.

Starting to put together training programs and camps for 2011.  Super Excited!!!

In Part I of this blog, I described these two individuals that were looking to complete there first Ironman distance triathlon in 2011.  

To recap, I had two individuals that had minimal triathlon experience, were strong runners, but lacked on the bike and swim.  They were in fact very motivated and mentally strong.  

Due to their mental strength, I decided to take them under my wing and train them for their first ever Ironman Finish Attempt.

I have completed 4 Ironman Triathlons, 5th in 2011, many sprints, olympic and off-road.  What I have observed during racing, training and coaching, is that the physical aspect of training and racing is the easy part, the hard part is the mental aspect.  You either have it or your don’t.  However, we can make you more confident through training the physical.

We all had those races or will have those races in where you are just spent, injured, blistered, or you look at your cycling computer and know that your data is telling you that you are not pushing as hard as you can or should be for the designated distance.  THIS IS WERE MENTAL TRAINING COMES IN PLAY!!

There is no doubt that you will have doubts during a race or feel that you can not go any further.  Trust me, it is normal and you can push further.  

Visualization, mantra’s, vision boards, meditation, etc had been used for years but had become more popular during the release of “The Secret”.

Here are some techniques to workout your mental game:

Visualization:

• While laying in bed visualize tomorrows workout is a positive way leading to your goals.
• Visualize passing the finish line at your goal pace and time.
• Visualize feeling strong and fast.
• Visualize yourself as having fun and being in control.
• Visualize your family supporting you.
• Visualize in a positive way that will eliminate your fears.

Mantra:

Post short precise messages that are in eyes view all the time (i.e. mirror, car, workout area, gym, computer, work).  Some mantra’s that you may utilize are:

• I am powerful.
• I am strong.
• I am quick.
• I am in control.
• I am fast.
• I am great.
• No compromise.
• Tear it up.

I know I am just scratching the surface, but this brings me back to my two new Ironman clients. With there strong mental game, when their bodies start to tell them to stop, they will tell there bodies “NOT UNTIL THE END”.  This is what makes a good athlete great.