The Mindset Behind Track & Field
Track and field, one of the most popular sports worldwide, is an electrifying and heart-pounding sport with a plethora of events for athletes to compete in and spectators to enjoy. While it is physically demanding with each training session and track meet, staying level-headed and focused is also mentally demanding. This article will elaborate on the complex mindset behind track and field, along with the perspectives of athletes at the high school and professional levels.
Track and Field Mentality:
As an active participant in their respective event, athletes constantly have a goal to perform well and therefore need to be at the top of their game. This consists of being both physically and mentally sharp, which means staying focused in times of pressure and physical struggle. Practice/training is also a fundamental part for track and field athletes, as they are preparing for competition in meets. Whether athletes are part of sprints, long-distance, field events, or throws, staying focused can determine either a season-best or season-worst performance.
While focusing and “locking in” is important for track and field success, it is never something to stress about 24/7. There is flexibility for having fun in practice a couple of times to relieve nerves, but there is always a right time and place to either mess around or be focused. For instance, an athlete specializing in the 100m sprint is about to compete in their league finals race. The day before, this sprinter assumes that their race is supposedly easy, as they previously set a new personal record in their last meet the week before. The sprinter decides to take their pre-meet practice in a laid-back approach, not taking their league final race seriously. Due to their lack of focus, that athlete did not race well, as they were unprepared to perform at their best. They were affected by distractions and pre-race nerves that would have been prepared for had they practiced beforehand. Staying focused is an extremely important factor for competing, as it clears the mind of any external distractions and keeps your eyes on the goal that so many athletes are reaching for: Winning.
Translating Good Training into Good Performance:
Most athletes in track and field are capable of doing well in their practice and training, and while it is beneficial in most cases, many struggle with translating good training into good performances in meets. To combat this popular situation, athletes can visualize their performances through practice and visualization. With this visualization, they can picture their success to gain more confidence and focus in races or competitions. While this factor is important for high school track and field athletes, it is especially prominent in the Olympic and professional scene. Being the three-time world champion in the 110m hurdles and world record holder in the 60m hurdles, Grant Holloway claims that visualization is key to success in track and field. In an Olympics.com interview, Holloway states:
“If you’re able to visualize your race and see what you’re going to do before it even happens, when it starts to come into fruition, it’s second nature”
With this visualization, athletes can prepare for their competition and perform as if they have already done it hundreds of times. Performances can only be executed well if the practice and training supporting it are executed just as well.
Flexibility:
Track and field, in addition to running in general, is something that athletes can always improve on. For track and field athletes to develop their craft, they must stay flexible and be open to growth from their teammates and coaches. Instead of athletes having a fixed mindset during training sessions and meets, they must have a flexible mindset. With a fixed mindset, they will simply view workouts as a way to look better and prove themselves to others rather than develop during every practice. Staying flexible can allow track and field athletes to better develop their abilities, communicate with their coach more easily, and reduce stress. Athletes can obtain a flexible mindset by:
Knowing when to put in full effort (Racing in the races and training in the training)
Listening to your body to recover efficiently
Staying away from training that leads to injury and burnout
Focusing on training to become better instead of proving yourself to others
Have a habit of communicating with coaches and teammates
Conclusion:
In the world of track and field, there are numerous factors and aspects that athletes must handle to succeed in their specific event. From sprints and long-distance to field events, staying focused on the fundamentals and keeping the right mindset is essential. There will be many setbacks and factors that are out of a track and field athlete’s control, but they can all be overcome with both physical and mental effort.
Sources:
Goldberg, Alan. “Mental Toughness Tips: Track & Field.” Competitive Advantage: Mental Toughness, Competitive Advantage: Mental Toughness, 26 Feb. 2020, www.competitivedge.com/mental-toughness-tips-track-field/.
Macy, Travis. “Growth Mindset for Runners.” Coach Jay Helps Coaches Take Their Program to the next Level., www.coachjayjohnson.com/blog/growth-mindset-for-runners. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
Team, Track and Field Forever. “The Mental Game of Track and Field: Strategies For Success.” Track and Field Forever, Track and Field Forever, 1 Feb. 2023, www.trackandfieldforever.com/beginner/the-mental-game-of-track-and-field-strategies-for-success.
Ustfccca. “The Skill of Focus – Teaching Track and Field Athletes the Plan.” Coaches Insider, 27 June 2023, coachesinsider.com/track-x-country/the-skill-of-focus-teaching-track-and-field-athletes-the-plan/.