That's very interesting.
So a few years back I meet with GJ's coach. I asked him specifically when he knew she was ready to win the gold at Rio. You know what he told me?
London 2015 when she raced sick as hell, had snot flying out her nose the whole race, felt like shit, didn't want to race, didn't give a shit and still executed a plan (got the W as well). He told me he knew then and there that she was mentally prepared and would show up on race day ready to fight under any race condition. He said he didn't even give a shit about her result, but her ability to fight through adversity and execute- that's when he knew she was finally ready to take it on race day no matter the conditions.
I don't know what that means in terms of GJ 2018, but I found that interesting that he would pick that moment in her training, and again it to me was more noted what her mental game was in terms of nothing stopping her. And I'm not going to compare a ton today, because honestly I think we are just watching an athlete play out an "comfort" decision to finish her career. She's a gamer and she's going to give it her all in this sport and do everything she can, but I also think this was the "safe" decision in terms of her athletic career. Safe in terms of it was by far the easiest on her and her family moving forward, even if it wasn't the most successful but was very lucrative helpful decision as well. ETA: It was also an decision that was helped in that...what's it really matter if she fails at the marathon? She's endurance athlete royalty now with her gold medal, so whether she makes it or not in marathon running, it won't have much impact on her overall. She's still going to get a ton of money at speaking engagements if she chooses that route, she's forever an golden girl within USAT and triathlon. So this is sorta an easy gamble to do with very little negative associated with it.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
So a few years back I meet with GJ's coach. I asked him specifically when he knew she was ready to win the gold at Rio. You know what he told me?
London 2015 when she raced sick as hell, had snot flying out her nose the whole race, felt like shit, didn't want to race, didn't give a shit and still executed a plan (got the W as well). He told me he knew then and there that she was mentally prepared and would show up on race day ready to fight under any race condition. He said he didn't even give a shit about her result, but her ability to fight through adversity and execute- that's when he knew she was finally ready to take it on race day no matter the conditions.
I don't know what that means in terms of GJ 2018, but I found that interesting that he would pick that moment in her training, and again it to me was more noted what her mental game was in terms of nothing stopping her. And I'm not going to compare a ton today, because honestly I think we are just watching an athlete play out an "comfort" decision to finish her career. She's a gamer and she's going to give it her all in this sport and do everything she can, but I also think this was the "safe" decision in terms of her athletic career. Safe in terms of it was by far the easiest on her and her family moving forward, even if it wasn't the most successful but was very lucrative helpful decision as well. ETA: It was also an decision that was helped in that...what's it really matter if she fails at the marathon? She's endurance athlete royalty now with her gold medal, so whether she makes it or not in marathon running, it won't have much impact on her overall. She's still going to get a ton of money at speaking engagements if she chooses that route, she's forever an golden girl within USAT and triathlon. So this is sorta an easy gamble to do with very little negative associated with it.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
Last edited by:
B_Doughtie: Oct 7, 18 10:40