Control the Controllable

Photo Credit- Zeke Grove’s Facebook Account

If you were watching the Pacific Regionals over this past weekend then you would have witnessed an amazing day 3 performance by Zeke Grove.

Zeke had an average day 1, by his own standards, and a bit better day 2 but going into day 3 he had to be very, very good and a lot of results had to fall his way.

Zeke is a 2 times games qualifier and going into the final workout of the competition he sat in 11th place and needing to make up 40 points to get inside the top 5 (Qualifying spots to the CrossFit Games)

Being in 11th spot meant that he completed the final workout in the second to last heat, making his performance that much more impressive.

I don’t know Zeke or exactly what he was thinking but from the outside looking in, it was the perfect example of how a successful athlete needs to attack their performances.

Zero worry about the circumstances that are outside of their control.

If he had spent too much time worrying about the results of everyone else then it would have been extremely difficult for him to turn in a 2nd place in that final performance.

He took ownership of his position and just flat out gave his best performance and then he went into the crowd with his family and friends and started to relax into his potential off season.

If you don’t know how the regionals work, they let the first 3 heats go then finish with the final heats of both the women and the men which is where the 5 fittest are crowned. I’m not sure on exact circumstances but I haven’t seen anyone come from the 2nd to last heat and qualify before.

In fact, regionals staff had to go and find Zeke in the stands to bring him down to the presentation as the count was so tight.

He came down and still looked disbelieving before hearing his name called out in 5th place.

Zeke ended up getting into 5th spot by 4 points and capped off one of the greatest regional performances of recent times by qualifying for his 3rd CrossFit Games.

It was a great moment to witness and a perfect example of why having a positive and controlled mindset really does make a huge difference in elite sport. We can only control the controllable, nothing else. Not other athlete’s performances or your own past events. Just the present moment and your present mindset. Breathe, focus and attack that performance with everything you have and the rest will play out as it will.

Well done Zeke and all of the other athletes that are heading to Maddison. I can’t wait to watch some more clutch performances in a couple of months at the Games.

 

“You have power over your mind not outside events. Realise this and you will find strength.” Marcus Aurelius

 

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAY:

Next time you are working out or training in an environment where you may begin to compare yourself to those around you, stop, be mindful and aware that it’s happening, and let it go. Focus solely on your performance. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t feed off of those around you as that’s one of my favourite parts of competition but don’t let it cripple you. Work on this purposefully and reap the benefits of having a stronger mindset.

Dice