Peak4

 

On my own personal journey to develop mental strategies to enhance my physical training in preparation for major events, I’ve developed my Peak4. This is how I look ahead and through a major event. I hope my strategy can help you!

Prepare

  • Preparation is an essential prerequisite for consistent success.
  • Put in the work, both preparing necessary skills and setting proper mental framework.
  • Quality over quantity. Be thoughtful in structuring practice and preparation. Repeating something incorrectly over and over does more damage than not practicing at all.
  • Practice as best and as often as you can but don’t overdo or overthink preparation. When you feel ready, be confident you have done enough.
  • Sleep and rest are as important as last minute preparation just before an event.

Execute

  • GO TIME! Work has been done, time to have fun and perform.
  •  You are prepared, you should not feel nervous or stressed. Be excited!
  • If you enjoy what you are doing, be excited to execute.
  • Clear your mind. Focus on next immediate task. Enter that dreamlike state.
  • Stay in the ZONE. Control what you can control and ignore what is going on around you.

Accept

  • No matter the result, favourable or not, accept and move forward.
  • Nothing can be done to change the result. Feel accomplished with any success and find humour in any mistakes.
  • Show opponents, competitors, officials, audience respect and gratitude.
  • If you are happy, enjoy the feeling but show respect for others around you who may feel less so.
  • If you are annoyed or frustrated, ok to feel those emotions because you are competitive and care. But treat that emotion like a hot coal in your hand, keep it for a second then let it go.
  • The result, good or bad,  should not impact your outward emotions as you look towards your next endeavour.

Knowledge+

  • Do not dwell on the result, but analyze and learn from your performance. There is a difference.
  • Accepting does not mean you should not still learn from your effort. Learn from successes and failures.
  • What went well? What did not go as expected?
  • What needs to be done in both practice and preparation again to bring similar success or differently to eliminate repeated mistakes?