kara goucher and trusting your stuff

Bruce Barcott's long-form Runner's World profile of Kara Goucher is a good read for marathoners, but a really excellent read for anyone struggling with self-doubt:

“Everyone has their weakness,” she says. “Mine is confidence.” ... her head has always messed with her. For as long as she can recall, it's thrown hammers at her feet. Some runners have trick knees or fragile hamstrings. She has an undermining psyche.

Some will read her admissions as weakness or dismiss Ms. Goucher's work with a sports psychologist as touchy-feely psychobabble. Not me. It takes guts to seek help in overcoming emotional barriers to success. Runner's World pairs the piece with a sidebar offering general advice for anxious runners -- worry early not late; enjoy the motion; define success by your own progress; embrace your competitors; and, employ a keyword.

On the latter point, Ms. Goucher used the word "fighter" during intense training moments and then invoked it at a critical race moment to push her to a strong performance. Even middle-of-the-packers can get a boost from keywords or affirmations. I like the words strong or stronger. I never feel fast or light when the wheels come off at mile 22, but I recall my training, feel my quads and calves tighten and my lungs open up, and know I can finish strong. Then I just tromp along to the finish, usually to the blub-blub-blub rhythm of my heavy-rollin' '71 Chrysler.

As a sociologist, I believe that success is structured, in part, by social relationships and resources. I've never used keywords in my professional life, but before big talks I'll remind myself to trust my stuff -- to believe in my preparation, methodologies, and the quality of work I'll be presenting. If you're well-prepared, you know what you're doing, and you've got good stuff to present, there's really no reason for anxiety.

The profile of Ms. Goucher emphasizes the critical distinction between a 10th-place finish in which she quit and a 9th-place finish in which she ran her heart out. She knew the difference, and I guess that's the point of the article -- confidence comes from performing to our full capabilities, regardless of any external validation for our efforts.