One year after the pandemic-canceled 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, the 2021 Olympic hopefuls competed with the same Olympic spirit of years past.
And now that we know who’s going to the Tokyo Olympics, let’s take a moment to review the three most applicable lessons from the Trials that every athlete can use in their personal and athletic pursuits.
Lesson #1: Extraordinary Obstacles Can Produce Extraordinary Results
The global pandemic majorly restricted access to sports facilities and equipment. Athletes resorted to unorthodox training methods and had little-to-no competitions, which compounded the traditional mental, physical and financial roadblocks Olympic hopefuls often face. These legit breakdowns lowered qualifying standards and overall performance expectations.
I certainly didn’t think there’d be new Olympic Trials and world records set. But there were.
Why?!
See lesson #2…
Lesson #2: Your Time is NOW
After coming in second place to world-record-setting, 400m hurdler Dalilah Muhammad at the 2019 Track & Field World Championships, a 20-year-old Sydney Mclaughlin committed to herself that she would be #1. She made tactical coaching and training changes to make it happen, including becoming a better student of her event. And it all paid off when she set a NEW world record and beat Dalilah in the 2021 Olympic Trials final.
In her triumph, Sydney reminds us all that great things happen when you shoot for the stars AND that there is nothing more motivating than a #2 in your face.
So don’t settle for your current environment’s standards and expectations. Live up to your true potential.
Sydney truly believed her time was NOW even though she is a lot younger than Dalilah. That’s one of the things I love about sports. It reminds us of the urgency of our lives. There is no “wait for your turn” just because you’re younger or less experienced.
Excellence is not a line you wait in; it’s a mountain you climb at your chosen pace.
Your greatness is not to be contained or relegated to a convenient time.
Lesson #3: Let Others Believe in You When You Can’t See It for Yourself
In several post-race interviews, we heard athletes recount when they lost faith and wanted to or actually did quit. And if it wasn’t for the firm belief and space that their coaches continued to hold for them, they would not have had their breakthrough achievements.
That is the value of an experienced coach. They are more likely to see and believe in your triumph before you will because they know they will get more out of you than you will on your own. And once they see it, they expect it and will PUSH YOU towards it.
So if you need help overcoming the athletic setbacks of the past year and a half; or would like a trained and experienced run faster coach believe in your dreams with you and provide a path for you to get there; and/or you know your time is NOW and you’re ready to be a better running student and trust the process, then I invite you to reply to this email and share your BIG running goals with me so we can team up and run through your victory line together.
Holding the space for you,
Martise : )
The Run Faster Coach
