My best experience was the joy of doing event 3. I had a miserable friday, didn’t enjoy being there because things turned out to be harder than I thought. After that day I was so close to be going home and simply quit. But then I had a talk with Janne (founder of mentalwod) and I started to believe in myself again, believing that I could work as hard as it was needed.

I gave it my all in event 3 and enjoyed every second of it, as the lactic acids start increasing, my joy just got stronger. 

After I finished I didn’t bother to see the other guys score, because I gave it everything I had and that what matters.

The most challenging thing to me, was to set aside the pressure from the spectators, friends, other athletes and sponsors and just concentrate on your own performance. The only thing you can control anyway.

The challenges got the best of me on Friday and I felt like I was doing this for everyone else but me.

But during the weekend I took control of the situation and started concentrate on my own performance, on giving it my very best and simply lock out everything else. I didn’t pay attention to other athletes, if the judge no-rep me I just took another one and even though the noise of the spectators was overwhelming, I didn’t notice it once I was in the “zone”

 

I remember my feeling after event 6; “if this wasn’t good enough to satisfy others expectations, I don’t give a shit. – This was what I got”.

To be able to perform your 100%, you need to learn how to isolate your thoughts on the next thing your are about to do. The next lift and not the PR you are going to make if you nail this one and the next lift.

There is only one lift and it is the next one!

Before Regionals I didn’t do any specific mental training, but after becoming aware of how important these skills are I am going to. Right now I concentrate on committing myself to the things I do, if I am doing homework, I try to resist checking email or Facebook. If I am training, I try to lock other people out right before I am attempting any lift. When I am spending time with my girlfriend I try putting my cellphone in the other room.

 

My best advice to other CrossFitters would be; keep your eyes on the target and not being afraid to do things.

You learn nothing if you win all the time, but you will learn a lot about yourself when you loose. Being able to turn the negative experience around and get the best of them makes you strong.

-  a final word, I just want to thank you again for helping me turn myself around during the Regionals – it is going to have an important impact on my life!