A Mental Strength Coach is Born

In the spring of 1984, my world was rocked during the course of an 800 meter race. Having plans to transfer to New York University in the fall, I knew that I would run for the last time as a University of Delaware Fighting Blue Hen. I was an average but consistent mid-distance runner for UD knowing deep down in my 20-year old body that I had underperformed my entire career.

Feeling somewhat melancholy before the race that day, I separated myself from my teammates. I thought about the upcoming foot surgery that would end my college track career. I reflected on my past wins and losses and I firmly committed myself to running my fastest time or setting a “PR”, Personal Record in this, my last race. I repeated over and over, “personal record”. I knew that had nothing to lose. Little did I know that I was clearing my mind with my very own made-up mantra.

I stepped onto the starting line that day in an unusually calm state. In other words, I didn’t feel that normal throw up feeling. The gun shot and off I went. Funny, I didn’t feel my legs burn and I didn’t hear that voice of doubt in my mind. I remember passing UD’s best mid-distance runner. That is when my one and only thought came into my mind. I thought, “Man, she must be having a bad day.” 

Having crossed the finish line in third place, my teammates jumped on me. They celebrated because I had shaved 5 seconds off of my PR. 5 SECONDS! That is HUGE in the 800 meters. I set a PR that I had never dreamed of.

Elated for a minute, I quickly sunk into disappointment. Thoughts flooded my mind. Why couldn’t I have done this sooner? How could I have waited until my last race to tap into my speed? How could I have allowed doubt and fear to block my potential for 6 years?

It was on that day that I began my quest to study the mind and how to use it in sports. It was years after that race that I found the practices of yoga and meditation I knew right away that I had found my mental training tools. I now consider myself a Mental Strength Coach. I am committed to helping athletes learn how to use their minds in order to tap into their speed, power and potential and not wait, like I did, until their last race or game to figure it out. 

Cara Bradley