Being critical…. Majority of the time I have to say that I am my toughest critic by far. The self -imposed question is whether or not that criticism is driven by a character trait call perfectionism. Likewise, on the flips side I have the ability to be overly optimistic about things and situations. This whole thought process has been driven through question and conversation. In the past few months I have been asked several thought provoking questions with insight of my career longevity and consistency. For the majority of my career I’ve primarily focused on win/loss and measured things by the meter and centimeter. However, I’m finding now that as I’m aging in the sport in a career that’s had over a 10yr span at the elite level that people are beginning to evaluate my career by a different set of standards. I’m not quite sure how knowledgeable my reading audience is with the triple jump, but it’s an extremely brutal event on the body that doesn’t have an extremely long career life. Most often you get individuals who are really good for a year or two, but are not able to maintain career consistency and longevity. In form the questions that were posed to me are along the lines of: What’s the secret? How have you managed to be so consistent at such a high level for so long in an event that so physically unforgiving? Also what has been the secret to my success in making every team in the last 9yrs? One would assume that these are all things that I’ve thought about or pondered in some fashion or form or at some point in time? Not at all, until recently. Like the length of my career, there is no short form one or two sentence explanation. There are sequence of things that I feel have allowed me to be so fortunate. First and foremost I would have to acknowledge God for giving me a talent and mental aptitude to grossly ingest vast amounts of knowledge. With that being said much has to be attributed to being knowledgeable and well studied and submersed into the scientific, biomechanical, and historical aspects of my sport and all sports. This knowledge has allowed me to avoid many costly mistakes and a lot of pseudo-science that different coaches and athletes are throwing around. People speaking in useless jargon in an attempt to either impress or masquerade what they really don’t know. Then there’s good old-fashioned hard work. I don’t think there is any substitute for hard. Many would say that I’ve probably over-trained for the majority of my career, but many have come and gone as well. By being more than absolutely certain about my preparation that I’ve dotted all my (I)’s and crossed all the (T)’s I never go in acting on false confidence. Just as important as having worked hard is having hard detailed evidence and records of the work done. Very Detailed pre and post training analysis of each and every workout. This type of detailed has allowed me to develop a very honest and reliable map. It’s kind of like having a career never lost GPS system. Even when I get slightly off track I’m never lost or that far away from directions to getting back on course. Inside of those journals and calendars lye everything you possibly need to know. The key is in understanding and cracking the code of what worked. That detailed knowledge of when, how, and why will always get you back in the vicinity of where you need to be. Probably, most importantly is understanding that what I do is just as much an Art as it is a Science. You must have a creative temperament that at times will allow you to go with the flow and deviate from the standard plan and protocol. Simplified it like this “when hungry eat. When tired sleep. Fools may laugh but wise men will understand.” Or “Its always better to do one rep to few than one to many” If you find yourself in question about something. I follow the rule of “if in doubt don’t”
In respecting my talent as a skill and an art I’m aware that you must constantly train and nurture that skill or talent. I also acknowledge that you are never free to create and freestyle until you’ve learned the fundamental mechanics. The keys and chords of music. The colors of paints and brushes in art. Only when you have learned and mastered those fundamentals can you then exploit yourself and abilities within those fundamentals. Last but not least surround yourself with good company. Watch, listen, and learn. That way when you do ask a question it’s always the right question and it will be highly regarded and esteemed by the individual in question. Making him or her more susceptible to giving you the answers and knowledge you desire
