My Training Isn’t Giving Me the Change I Thought It Would — Now What?
If you’ve ever felt like your training isn’t delivering the results you expected, you’re not alone — and you’re certainly not failing.
One thing you’ll never hear in a pro athlete’s interview? Statements like:
“I’m so unprepared.”
“I can’t do this.”
“I should have started earlier.”
Why? Because we intuitively accept that if our sporting heroes gave negative performance a voice, they’d pave the way for that negative performance to show up — right when it matters most.
Yet many recreational and everyday athletes talk to themselves this way every day, especially as race day or competition looms closer.
What Happens As Your Event Nears?
For many athletes, motivation drops right when anxiety spikes.
Nights spent thinking:
“I’ll never get enough training done in time!”
Mornings waking up to:
“I should have prepared for this earlier.”
Sound familiar?
And yes — the words matter.
Research is clear: thoughts directly shape feelings, which shape behaviours. Negative self-talk doesn’t just kill motivation — it can literally weaken how strong and capable you feel in your own body.
One study (Slimani & Cheour, 2016) showed positive self-talk boosted motivation, physical strength, and belief in one’s own abilities. Negative self-talk did the opposite.
The Champion’s Mindset Is Different
You might think top athletes are obsessively focused on winning.
In reality, the best ones I know are obsessively curious — about what’s working, what’s possible, and what could help them get even 1% better.
They don’t dwell on what they “should have done” — they hunt for what they can still do.
Champions lean into curiosity because it keeps their mind open and engaged. Neuroscience shows that curiosity literally lights up the hippocampus — the part of your brain tied to learning, memory, reward, and motivation. When you’re curious, your brain stores more, enjoys more, and grows faster.
Curiosity Beats Fear — Every Time
When you shift your focus from fear (“I’m not ready!”) to curiosity (“What’s one thing I can learn about my body today?”) you create a training environment that rewards you now and on race day.
This final stretch before your event is an ideal time to pay attention:
✅ What small tweak helps you feel stronger?
✅ What routine helps you recover faster?
✅ What fuel works best?
Each small insight builds traction. Each insight calms fear and fuels motivation. You’re building a smarter, more resilient body — not just grinding out miles or reps.
Try This Instead
Next time that “I can’t” or “I should have” shows up — pause.
Swap it for:
“What can I do today that helps my body tomorrow?”
You’ll be surprised how fast your motivation finds its second wind.
We’d love to hear how you keep your mindset sharp as your event approaches. What insights have helped you stay motivated?
👉 Email me : barbara@eventreadybodies.co.nz — I read every story!
#TrainSmart #StayCurious #EventReadyBodies