What Every Athlete Can Learn From Ironman Record Holder Craig Alexander
A 2.4-mile swim. A 112-mile bike ride. A 26.2-mile marathon run.
Just listing the components of an Ironman Triathlon can be enough to make you feel queasy. When it comes to actually performing one, there might be no one better than Craig Alexander.
RELATED: Why You Need a Mental Warm-Up: How to Build Confidence Before a Game
The Australia-born Alexander won the Ironman World Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Held annually in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the Ironman World Championship is the most iconic event in the sport. Alexander’s 2011 time of 8 hours, 3 minutes and 56 seconds set a course record that still stands today. The thought of pushing yourself that hard for 8-plus hours is enough to give anyone pre-race jitters, which is why Alexander uses special strategies to help him stay confident and focused prior to the daunting event. He says:
There’s one little trick or strategy I use, particularly during race week. Particularly for Kona. Amongst all the media and sponsorship obligations, I always take a quiet moment to read my training diary. [It shows] the last 6 to 12 months, everything leading up to the race, so it just really hits home how much work has gone into it. And that would motivate me. To see that the preparation started the minute I crossed the finish line at Kona the year before. I’d done my due diligence, I’d been relentless, I’d paid attention to the little details. It was overwhelming the amount of work and training; to me it was inspiring to read my training diary to see how much went into it. That would motivate me a lot.
Seeing real, concrete evidence of his preparation helps Alexander realize he’s fully prepared for what lies ahead. Even if you’re not a triathlete, using a similar approach can help you calm your nerves and keep your confidence high heading into a big game or event.
RELATED: 5 Pillars of Mental Toughness For Athletes
If you’re a football player, you can pull up your workout logs and see all the time you spent in the weight room. If you’re a basketball player, you can pull up your practice schedule and see how many shots you put up. As long as you have prepared, this tactic can help you vanquish doubt and visualize success.
But pre-race mental preparation isn’t the only trick Alexander uses to dust his competition. He also makes sure to beat cramping with HOTSHOT, a 1.7-ounce shot of organic ingredients that has been scientifically proven to prevent and treat muscle cramps. Unlike other products that claim to prevent cramping, HOTSHOT stops them where they start—at the nerve. Learn more about this revolutionary product at TeamHOTSHOT.com.
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What Every Athlete Can Learn From Ironman Record Holder Craig Alexander
A 2.4-mile swim. A 112-mile bike ride. A 26.2-mile marathon run.
Just listing the components of an Ironman Triathlon can be enough to make you feel queasy. When it comes to actually performing one, there might be no one better than Craig Alexander.
RELATED: Why You Need a Mental Warm-Up: How to Build Confidence Before a Game
The Australia-born Alexander won the Ironman World Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Held annually in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the Ironman World Championship is the most iconic event in the sport. Alexander’s 2011 time of 8 hours, 3 minutes and 56 seconds set a course record that still stands today. The thought of pushing yourself that hard for 8-plus hours is enough to give anyone pre-race jitters, which is why Alexander uses special strategies to help him stay confident and focused prior to the daunting event. He says:
There’s one little trick or strategy I use, particularly during race week. Particularly for Kona. Amongst all the media and sponsorship obligations, I always take a quiet moment to read my training diary. [It shows] the last 6 to 12 months, everything leading up to the race, so it just really hits home how much work has gone into it. And that would motivate me. To see that the preparation started the minute I crossed the finish line at Kona the year before. I’d done my due diligence, I’d been relentless, I’d paid attention to the little details. It was overwhelming the amount of work and training; to me it was inspiring to read my training diary to see how much went into it. That would motivate me a lot.
Seeing real, concrete evidence of his preparation helps Alexander realize he’s fully prepared for what lies ahead. Even if you’re not a triathlete, using a similar approach can help you calm your nerves and keep your confidence high heading into a big game or event.
RELATED: 5 Pillars of Mental Toughness For Athletes
If you’re a football player, you can pull up your workout logs and see all the time you spent in the weight room. If you’re a basketball player, you can pull up your practice schedule and see how many shots you put up. As long as you have prepared, this tactic can help you vanquish doubt and visualize success.
But pre-race mental preparation isn’t the only trick Alexander uses to dust his competition. He also makes sure to beat cramping with HOTSHOT, a 1.7-ounce shot of organic ingredients that has been scientifically proven to prevent and treat muscle cramps. Unlike other products that claim to prevent cramping, HOTSHOT stops them where they start—at the nerve. Learn more about this revolutionary product at TeamHOTSHOT.com.