Motivation and Mental Toughness

            The first time I truly experienced the effect and role that motivation and mental toughness actually play during training or competition was last semester while I was training for my first half marathon.  I have always been quite active and in good physical condition, but I hated running.  One might ask why I would sign-up for a half marathon if I hated running…and that is a good question.  I signed up for it because I knew I could do it and I hated the fact that running two miles…no let’s be honest here, running one mile kicked my butt.  After four weeks of training, I still had never run more than two miles without walking.  When I came to that realization, along with the realization that if I just kept running I would get to eat dinner much sooner, I decided I wasn’t going to walk anymore.  That particular day was a five mile run and I ran the entire five miles.  Nine weeks later, I ran my first half marathon.  It was this experience that made me realize how much mentality has an effect on performance. 

            From articles that I have read, as well as my own personal experiences, I feel confident that mentality is just as important as physical ability.  Therefore, since obviously physical training is essential to performance, mental toughness must be trained as well.  There are many methods to training mental toughness.  During my time at FAU, I have noticed several techniques used to prepare the athletes mentally.  Team building has been a primary focus with the football team.  The team was divided into twelve teams at the beginning of the semester and each week these teams would be given a challenge in which they had to work together to compete against the other teams.  This taught the guys to work together as a team and it was a way to get them to depend on each other.  When the guys are forced into situations in which they have to depend on each other, it also encourages them to push themselves to the limit so as not to let down their teammates.  In team sports, this mindset is essential to success.  Mentality determines success.  It has been quite a beneficial experience to get to work with the athletes and coaches at FAU.  I have had the chance to witness not only physical strength gains, but I’ve also gotten to see some positive changes in the overall mentality of the team.  Of course, there are still steps to be made but I know they are on the right track.  I hope to see this transfer to the field during this fall 2011 season!