Integrating Acceptance for Endurance Athletes

Most endurance athletes are no strangers to discomfort. There are numerous elements of discomfort in endurance racing. It is important to recognize that discomfort is not always the “pain” an athlete might be experiencing; it is multidimensional. The more self-awareness an athlete has, the more ability they will have to be able to respond.  

Discomfort can be physical, including muscular fatigue, changes in heart rate or breathing patterns, and mechanical breakdown during performance. Emotional discomfort can also manifest as frustration, pre-competition anxiety, and nerves throughout the race. There may also be cognitive discomfort, including struggles with self-talk, decision-making, and confidence.              

Discomfort is not an experience many athletes enjoy. Changing the mindset from resisting discomfort to accepting discomfort is an important strategy to consider.  Instead of discomfort being the enemy, recognize that it provides valuable information to help each athlete become more self-aware.

Acceptance in Endurance Sports

So, what is acceptance?  Acceptance does not mean that an athlete is settling or giving up.  Acceptance means that an athlete is enhancing their awareness by:

• Working towards acknowledging discomfort without trying to control or eliminate it
• Allowing thoughts and sensations to exist without overreacting or resisting them
• Staying committed to the process despite experiencing discomfort mentally or physically

ADVERTISEMENT

Learning to Implement Acceptance

Learning to implement acceptance is a process.  It takes time and patience for an athlete to recognize the discomfort they’re experiencing before implementing strategies to assist them during a training session or race.  These are a few strategies to help athletes learn to implement acceptance.

1. Make Space

Instead of resisting discomfort, athletes can allow their mind and body to welcome the experience. Some ways to do this include relaxing their jaws, breathing into the sensation they’re experiencing, and labeling the sensations appropriately to raise recognition of experiences.  

2. Recognize Thoughts

Many times, as discomfort rises, so do intrusive thoughts such as “I am not strong enough” or “I should be faster”. Learning to recognize normal responses is very important for helping an athlete become aware. Instead of fighting these thoughts or letting them take over, it is important to implement small mindset shifts to rephrase your internal dialogue.

3. Reconnect to Values

Every athlete has a reason for racing. Understanding their values helps an athlete accept the process. When acceptance is present, athletes are connected to a sense of meaning and purpose. As discomfort increases, athletes can work on reminding themselves of how this experience connects to their values.

4. Stay in the Present Moment

As discomfort increases, it becomes harder to stay in the present moment. Many athletes tend to think about the future, which can lead to “what-ifs”. “What if I don’t PR?”  “What if I don’t finish?”  “What if my body hurts too much?” Acceptance occurs in the present. Implementing grounding techniques can help connect to the “right now” moment they are experiencing. 

Implementing acceptance allows athletes to stop battling what they are experiencing in the present moment. Self-awareness helps athletes recognize the discomfort they’re feeling without minimizing it. Being a mindful athlete keeps an athlete anchored in the mile they’re in rather than focusing on the past or future.

ADVERTISEMENT