Exhibit useful levels of competitive arousal: Mental Attributes of Elite Runners #15/15
#15 — Exhibit useful levels of competitive arousal.
I’ve noticed the way elite runners and non-elite runner approach competition is different.
Non-elite use competition as a platform to prove or demonstrate their fitness. They tend to focus their energies on running a certain time as a benchmark of success. All their training has been geared towards running an ideal pace, even split, of course, and success hinges on running or bettering that magical time. In effect, all races are viewed as time trials.
Elites are different. They can and do a time trial. But this is only a means to an end. Usually it’s getting a national or global championship qualification mark or a money bonus in their contract. Time trials are a part of the sport, but to elites, they’re not the focal point. Competition is what they care most about.
Elites focus on the big races. The championships or major events were a showdown with others in class. They train to compete. “Fast times” are simply a result of their preparations and racing at a high level.
Sub-elites worry a lot about if they can run a time. The clock is their master.
Elites concern themselves with being in good enough condition to best their competitors. They want to race against the best to see what they got. They’re excited on race day to go head-to-head against rivals.
Many sub-elites think if they get in good enough shape to run a certain time all other competitors will fade away. Not so. There is always some just as good or better than you. The elites want to know just how much better their competition is. They want to be tested.
Sub-elites are not the bad guy — they’re good people, dedicated athletes who want to do their best. I’ve made a career on helping sub-elite runners become elite. It’s not easy work, but it’s rewarding.
My point is many sub-elites priorities are different and that is one thing that holds them back. Their results are inferior to what they could be if they shifted their mindset and clarified why they’re training and for what.
Anyone can start being elite today. Elite is a state of mind, a standard of excellence. Yes, you must be in a certain physical condition to compete at an elite level in sport, but that work is easy to do. The harder work is getting your mind ready to be excited by competition, looking forward to difficult tests, and being open-minded to seeing what you’ll learn by going up against top rivals regularly.