"That's me in the corner..." (you all know the song)

Hey High-Achievers,

Let me take you behind the curtain for a moment—into the world that exists outside the spotlight, beyond the fanfare of race day, and into the quiet, often unnoticed moments where the real work happens. I’m talking about being in the background, the practice of stepping back, and observing the intricate details that can make or break an athlete’s performance.

The Scene: Stepping Into the Shadows

There’s something almost sacred about the time before a race. The routine is familiar—physical warm-ups, cognitive priming, hydration, and nutrition checks. On the surface, it looks like any other pre-race preparation. But if you pay close attention, if you let yourself fade into the background and observe, you begin to notice the nuances that tell the real story.

Look at the picture above: I’m standing just outside the main action, not involved directly but present enough to take it all in. The athlete has been moving through the usual motions— doing a trackwalk, getting a treatment, warming-up muscles, running through cognitive drills, sipping on water, and grabbing a quick bite. But my focus isn’t just on what’s happening in the physical sense. I’m watching the subtle communication cues, the team dynamics, and the mental preparation that’s quietly unfolding.?

The Art of Observation: More Than Just a Spectator

Here’s where it gets interesting. While the athlete goes through her routine, I’m observing how she communicates with her team. Is she confident? Is there tension? How does she respond to feedback—does she brush it off, or does she engage with it? These moments of interaction, often unnoticed by the athlete herself, are telling. They reveal the mindset she’s carrying into the race.?

Then there’s the team. I’m watching how they interact with her, how they support or challenge her, and how the dynamics play out in these critical moments. Is the team on the same page? Are they boosting her confidence, or is there a disconnect? The way the team functions as a unit can be a significant factor in an athlete’s mental state going into the race.

The Mental Game: Preparing Beyond the Physical

But perhaps the most important observation is how the athlete prepares herself mentally. Is she focused or distracted? Is she visualizing success, or does she seem burdened by the weight of the race ahead? The way she handles this pre-race period can often predict how she’ll perform once the flag drops.

I’ve seen it time and time again—an athlete who appears physically ready but is mentally off-kilter. It’s in the way she fidgets, how she breathes, the look in her eyes when no one’s talking to her. It’s these small, almost imperceptible signs that can signal whether she’s in the zone or if something’s off.

The Takeaway: The Power of the Background

Being in the background, observing these moments, isn’t about being passive—it’s about being hyper-aware. It’s about gathering the information that will help guide the next step, whether it’s adjusting the pre-race routine, offering a word of encouragement, or stepping in with a quick recalibration of the mental game plan.

In the world of high-performance sports, the difference between winning and losing can come down to these tiny, often overlooked details. And sometimes, the most crucial role you can play is the one that goes unnoticed—quietly gathering insights, understanding the dynamics at play, and being ready to act when it matters most.

So the next time you think all the action happens on the track, remember this: some of the most important work is done in the background, where the real preparation happens, and where champions are made.?

Stay sharp, stay observant, and keep pushing those limits.

Cheers,?

Pieter

#MaverickTraining #PerformanceMindset #TeamDynamics #AthletePreparation #StayObservant #HighPerformance