A few years back I was at a triathlon event and just so happened to walk into a lecture given by Chrissie Wellington.

For those who don’t know who she is, Chrissie Wellington is probably one of the best athletes that Great Britain has ever produced.

She one her first ever ironman event and has broken world records left right and centre.

She has beaten all but a few men at the same distances.

As you can tell, I am a bit of a fan.

Anyway, back to the lecture…

I just stumbled in and stood at the back with all the other latecomers.

She said something that stuck with me even to this day.

“Competing is 50% training and 50% mental”.

It is something that sticks with me whenever I find the going tough.

For example I am one of these crazy people that like riding bikes up mountains…

Well one my last big events I was on the final climb of the day, alps duHeuz in the French alps.

My legs were screaming, my head was dizzy and all I could think about was this saying.

Whenever I saw a person walking in the side of the road I kept on telling myself that it is 50% mental and that I could do it.

And do you know what, it worked!

I made it to the top. I finished. And I didn’t stop and walk once.

No, I am not telling you this story to gloat about my cycling abilities.

But the story about being 50% mental.

No matter how hard something seems, you can do it.

One of my favourite sayings is “the mind will always give up before the body”.

You are capable of far more than you give yourself credit for.

So when things are seeming hard, just ask yourself, is it the mind giving up or the body.

My guess is it is the mind wanting to have a little rest.

So keep going with all of your exercise and whatever else you are doing.

Whenever you set you mind to it, you can do anything.

 

Lyndon “just keeping moving” Littlefair

 

Ps If you don’t want to miss out on anything, just sign up to my daily emails below:

Essential Daily Emails