Coaching words

We say too much, we say too little. We are in constant search for the right words at the right time. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we do not. This applies to many of us in all walks of life.

Coaching is a privilege. To be in the position of saying the words in the first place is an absolute honour. Over the last 20 years of coaching I have said too much, I have used the wrong words in the wrong order and not got the result I wanted. It hurts when I look back, as I am confident that had I changed the order or the tone the result would have changed too. But I have said what I have said, the way I have said it in the moment believing it is the right thing for the athlete. 

The more I coach the more the odds seem to swing in my favour. I am far from perfect. I still make many mistakes.

I keep a record of a lot of the words I share with people that I coach. I recently found some words I shared with an athlete before a race. I hope they help you in some way.

No Weakness,
Marcus

“The next time you go to bed you will be a very different human being. It’s incredible. I’m excited. I hope you are too. 

This race will change you but only if you allow it. It’s not automatic. First it will talk to you, sometimes softly, other times in a harsh and aggressive way. By doing so it is asking permission to teach you, to help you, to carry you if needs be. It’s process driven. It has to be. There have to be steps, some are small, others bigger, the order will not always make sense, don’t try and figure it out, your energy is best used elsewhere. 

There are few other races where the balance of psychological to physiological is so heavily weighted to the former. The physiological odds are stacked in your favor. They are data driven. Some may say the easiest part of the puzzle. 

The psychological is a different beast because no one actually knows, maybe not even you. This is the gift, this is the fun part and this is why you are here. Stay here. The mind may want to wander, sometimes forwards, sometimes backwards, allow it but always remind it as to where you are, let it know that you are here and it can be here with you too. 

It’s all emotions at once but then none at all for what may seem like hours. Enjoy both. They are the gift you have worked so hard for. They are the things that change you, that make your heart beat in a special way and they allow you to smile in a way not everyone can. 

Go out there with that smile, with your chest held high, your shoulders back and your soul relaxed. 1 minute before the next lap is your time, your time to be, your moment in paradise. Everything will happen exactly the way it is supposed to. Have fun. #noweakness”