41. How to relate to anxious thoughts when performing competitive sports

How do top athletes think about their physical struggles - pain,
exhaustion, thirst - when competing?


How do the top athletes push their bodies to the absolute limit
over hours or days of competition? 


When feeling under significant pressure or in high stake
situations, It’s natural that our mind may jump to conclusions
about what’s going on or what’s going to happen; it's natural
that our mind may jump into thinking traps. It’s natural that our
mind may compare our performance with others’ performance. . .
It’s natural that our minds may convince us to stop trying, to
give up, to stop competing . . . 


I had the honor of interviewing Alex Hutchinson, a journalist,
former Canadian national team distance runner, current
award-winning science journalist, and author of the book Endure.


In this conversation Alex, kindly shares





His writing process

How he decided to write Endure

How he maintains a scientific approach to his writing

How he handles the uncertainty of not knowing

How to think about physical sensations during a high athletic
performance

How to relate to physical discomfort when competing at a
professional level






This conversation has reminded me, once again, about the
importance of scientific humbleness; and how, when doing what we
care about, keeping ourselves in check, is crucial to keep
science going.


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