The 2022 USAT Age-group National Championships in Milwaukee two weeks ago was supposed to be a triumphal follow-up for Miguel Mattox and Jenna Haufler, two of the top amateur triathletes in the U.S. with whom I work (both have given me permission to use their names and tell their stories) who absolutely crushed it at [...]
Mikaela Shiffrin’s results at the Beijing Olympics were not what we were all hoping for (least of all Mikaela herself!). At the same time, I have no doubt that, after some sadness and soul searching, she will be back stronger, better, and faster than ever. It’s easy in these situations to analyze, evaluate, and critique [...]
In the first three articles in my series on the impact of emotions in triathlon, I introduced you to how emotions can be weapons or tools in our triathlon efforts, how to break the negative emotional chain, and how to ensure that you feel disappointment rather than devastation, respectively. In the final article in the [...]
It never feels good to have a bad race. You perform poorly and you naturally feel awful. It’s normal to experience negative emotions in reaction to results that don’t live up to your expectations. But what specific negative emotion you experience has a big influence on how that subpar performance affects you in the near [...]
Every recommendation that I have made in my sports articles is directed toward helping your young athletes develop a positive emotional response to their sports experiences. Their emotions in their sports lives impact both their enjoyment and performance in their sport. The ability of your children to have a positive emotional reaction begins with a [...]
In my previous article, I shared with you My 5 Biggest Pet Peeves on Game Day. In that article, I shared what you shouldn’t do on game day. This article is about what you should do to perform your best and achieve your goals on game day. A fundamental question you need to ask is: [...]
The Saturday Evening Post published my most recent column, How to Let Go of Fear of Failure. Fear of failure is epidemic in our culture among children and adults alike. This essay explores the debilitating effect that fear of failure can have on people. It also offers advice on ways that people can let go of [...]
In Episode #7 of my Crisis to Opportunity podcast, we continue our exploration of the powerful role that emotions play in how we react to crises in our lives. Specifically, this podcast will examine whether you experience either disappointment or devastation as you confront a crisis and how each of these emotions enables you to [...]
As parents, you hate to see your children disappointed. They are sad, downtrodden, and seem to have the weight of their lives on their shoulders. Your hearts ache for their pain and you want to do everything you can to relieve them of that disappointment. But that would be a mistake! Certainly, disappointment is not [...]
The 2018-19 race season is approaching its conclusion. The Nor-Ams, Regional Championships, and other big races are now in our rearview mirror. Many racers are heading into the final stretch of races hoping to continue a successful season of high results and improved points and rankings. This group looks back on the race season with [...]
