It takes more than just strength, stamina, and flawless technique to win the CrossFit Games. Mental toughness is probably the most important part of an elite athlete's arsenal. 2014 CrossFit Games winner Camille Leblanc-Bazinet has developed one of the strongest mindsets out there, and she shares her 3 mental rules to help you push through the suck on your way to glory.
1. As you transition from one exercise to another force yourself to start the first rep immediately. For example, if you are performing Cindy, once you complete the last pullup, immediately perform the first pushup. This avoids the tendency to take relatively long breaks between movements and prevents you from succumbing to mental traps.
2. Run, do not walk, as you transition from exercise to exercise. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand. Do not take a detour to check if anyone texted you, I already checked for you, all your friends are too busy watching Friends reruns, eating cheetos, and wiping that nasty orange stuff on the bottom of their couch cushions. Run! Once you arrive at the next exercise see step one above.
3. Stay positive. Alright. I know what you’re thinking. This is one piece of advice I didn’t really need Mr. Sunshine. Maybe, but Camille’s take on this was very specific to moving heavy weights. Since, she weighs about the same as the average kindergartner, I’d guess this is a mental challenge she faces on a regular basis. So when prepping to attack a weight which is going to test you, remain positive, don’t rush into it, and get yourself positioned and set up perfectly before starting the lift.
About the Author:
FuncThat.com is the "Unofficial Guide to CrossFit and functional training". Be sure to check them out for more great articles.
