Mind over Muscle

This past weekend was the 3rd Annual All-Cities Open, a competition hosted by the amazing crew of Dallas CrossFit Central. It was a great opportunity to see how Dave's programming has improved my abilities by leaps and bounds. Last year, I was almost dead last in every work out. It was more attributed to my lack of skill (double unders, chest to bar pull-ups, and sand bag shouldering) than my fitness level. This year, I am stronger, but we have really focused on skill work. The "new" event for me for this competition was the altas stones. Atlas stones are large cement balls of various weight increments. They are heavy and awkward.
Dave had me practice on atlas stones at CrossFit Cedar Park, but we focused on me picking them up from the floor and lifting them up to my shoulder. My PR (personal record) prior to the competition was the 115# atlas stone.
So, we get to the competition, and here's what they gave me to do. I had 2 minutes to pick up 5 atlas stones and drop them over a 40" beam. The weights for the stones were 42#, 73#, 93#, 116#, 142#. Now, let me add that my right hamstring has been bugging me for a couple of months, so my deadlifts have suffered lately. I saw the 142# and thought, no way I can pick that one up. My plan was to get the first four, and "try" to get the fifth stone in the remaining time.
They have this event set up so 2 men and 1 woman go at a time. I was in Heat 42. I notice that most of the women, even women who have NEVER touched an atlas stone before, are crushing this work out. The fastest time for women is 20 seconds. What does Liz do? I start freaking out. I am terrified that I will further injure my leg. I start feeling like I'm going to make a big fool of myself wrestling with this huge boulder. I put on a weight belt to protect my back, and had my football gloves near just in case the last stone is too slippery. I asked a couple of women who did it successfully, and their reply, "It's just a deadlift." So, here I am, way over-contemplating, almost in tears, scared of what my 2 minutes in the pit will look like. Dave tried to encourage me, but I knew he could tell that I was at the "Liz-psyched out-level". It was going to be ugly.
Then, the most amazing thing happened. My judge came up to me only seconds before my turn and said, "Here are the rules. Don't touch the mat until we say, 'Go.' Each stone has to touch the beam and roll over it. As soon as you're done with all five stones, come sign your performance card." All anxiety washes away because I turned my focus to only those three rules. I no longer feel any twinging in my hamstring. I am suddenly calm and ready to rock it.

I hear, "In 3, 2, 1, GO!" and immediately step on the mat. I grab the first stone and make sure it touches the beam as I push it to the other side, run back and do the same with the next few stones. Before I know it, only one stone remains. I roll the 143# beast closer to the beam, squat down and wrap my arms around it. I keep the stone close while it rolls up my legs until I am standing high enough to rest it on the beam. I roll it over, and then it hits me. I just did it! I run over to my team for a quick high five and go back to the judge to sign my card. Totally shocked, I look at the card, and it says 28s. I stare at it, look at my judge inquisitively. He says, "This is the time on the stop watch when the last stone hit the ground." I not only completed the work out, I annihilated it in 12th place!

The one workout that really had me scared was my best performance of the entire day. I have no idea what would have happened if my judge had not removed all irrelevant information for me. What it would have looked like if all I thought of was not exacerbating my leg condition. This message is not only important for athletes, but coaches as well.

Think of how powerful we are through our minds. When you're in the middle of a tough workout, what do you think? Do you mill over the weight and feel sorry for yourself. Or, do you think, "I just finished 30 and only have 20 more to go. Finish it."

Coaches, you have the power of suggestion to really influence your clients. If you say, "This is the hardest part. It's really gonna suck, but you have to do it." All your athlete is going to think is, "Wow. This really sucks. This is really hard." Instead, suggest, "You got this. You made it through the worst, now it's easy. Stay strong." Keep the motivation on a positive note, focus on only the task at hand, and watch what happens to your athletes!
I'd love to read your comments on this and related topics.