Olympic Thinking

776BC in Olympia Greece saw the first Olympic Games held. From then on they were held on a 4 year cycle known as an Olympiad. 

In 1896 as the modern Olympics were revived it was decided to keep the games on a four year cycle primarily to honour the ancient games. Mix this with the logistics of such a global event and the case is a fair one.

Add to this two key human aspects. One of the time it takes humans to perform optimally and two the meaning that scarcity can create.

Fast forward to the present day and our calendars are full of races and events. Challenging logistics and asking the body to perform optimally multiple times a year. These multiple times taking away that specialness, the scarcity. 

It contradicts tradition which is not always a bad thing but it also contradicts science and the way we are wired as human beings.

As we like to “hack” systems in the modern age we hear talk of “a” races and “others” or “training” races. A logical approach but a recipe that few are able to execute the way it is designed. It again conflicts the human mind turning up to a “race” and “taking it easy”.

Perhaps before diving into the complexities of “a” races and “others” we should adopt some “Olympic” thinking to our performance goals across many areas of our lives.  

Marcus