Drew Brannon, Ph.D., CC-AASPThe Lowdergroup

The Role of Sport Psychology for the Endurance Athlete

The Psychology of the Endurance Athlete LifestylePsychology of Peak PerformanceMental HurdlesNext Steps

Where does it fit?

How can it help?

If the sport is “so mental,” why don’t we work on it or consider it more (Grand-Maison, 2004)?

Relying on self-report data

Few (if any) funding sources

Outcome variables difficult to measure

Limited interest by researchers/current faculty

High need for control (works for and against)

Driven or rigid?

Life-balance needs (periodization)

Social benefit/social cost

Perfectionistic tendencies

Self-monitoring – solitary training can hide many things

Accountability – use others for more than just pace

Motivation – listen to your internal barometer

Stress reliever? Source of stress?

How do you define success?Too narrow?

How do you handle adversity?

Have you personalized your mental approach?

Are your expectations realistic?

No history, no future (in the moment)

Laying the foundationMission StatementTrigger statements

Is it who you are?If you saw yourself on

tape?In your face

No impact without contact

Ink it, don’t think it

Pain

Focus (on what?)

Pre-race anxiety

Comparisons

Worries

Injury

Yerkes-Dodson, 1908

Proper perspective on it

Imagery

Breathing exercises

Self-talk

Confidence

Motivation

Self-talk

Intensity

Focus

Breathing 1 to 2 Ratio

Imagery (Murphy, 2005)See it, feel it, live it

YogaProgressive muscle

relaxation“Go to” music

Triggers“I’ve done the work, today’s my day.”“My race, my goal.”

ImagerySee that moment, feel that moment

Perspective“Control what I can control.”

Where do you go from here when it happens?

Do you expect to always be “on?”

Growth opportunities

Motivators

Do we assess and grow when things go well?

Create your “race day plan”

Imagery

Self talk

Goals

Internal drive

Assessment

Putting the plan together

Executing the plan

Evaluating the plan

Goal What When

Increase motivation Set goals Every Monday

Grow confidenceDevelop positive self-

talkPrior to/following

races and/or training

Improve focus ability Create triggersDuring weekly track

workout

Handle pain better Use trigger responseDuring interval

workouts

The Power of Full Engagement (Loehr)

Inner Strength (Vernacchia)

The Triathlete’s Guide to Mental Training (Taylor)

Golf if not a Game of Perfect (Rotella)

Drew Brannon, Ph.D., CC-AASPThe Lowdergroup

86 Villa Road, Suite BGreenville, SC 29615

p: 864.239.4110dbrannon@lowdergroup.com