Building Your Mental Toolbox | Triathlon Tips With Dr. Jim Taylor

As triathletes, we may be aware of how much of a pivotal role our mental fortitude and psychology plays in our performance, but how exactly can we work on these skills? We sat down with Dr. Jim Taylor to find out.
00:00 - Intro
01:35 - How important is mental strength?
03:41 - Your mental toolbox
06:50 - How can you train your mentality?
09:49 - Tips for long distance
12:20 - Focussing on the present
13:30 - Finding the time
17:17 - Final tips and the importance of perspective
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[@gtn]

Do you train your mental toolbox?

[@ajithkannan4818]

No but after this I got an idea about train my mental strength, how I think, how it boost my mind stay focus. 👍👍

[@blaquaman1739]

I train everyday twice a day except Sunday, when I get a proper bike my age group is in trouble 💪🏾

[@DrJimTaylor]

Thanks for all the kind words about the segment. It was super fun talking with Mark and sharing my knowledge and experience.

[@gtn]

Thank you for talking us! Was our pleasure :)

[@jonnysaville7586]

As a trainee sport psychologist & an age grouper myself, it’s great to see this topic being discussed on the channel!

[@Edubrandel]

That’s an awesome video that I will definitely save to my favorites toolbox lol

[@stuartmclean3843]

I've returned to bike racing at the age of 47 after 22 years away from cycling, I now have asthma, something I didn't have in my teens and early 20s when I was riding, when doing threshold or above training I've had a few panic attacks with my mind telling me I'm having a asthma attack when in reality it's the effort that's causing the breathing, sounds easy when I write it to distinguish between the two but in practice I still have issues on the bike at intensity, I have improved it by the way of, the more u do it the better you will get but, I do still get panic attacks when working at intensity, is there a way or technique I can use to combat this, for reference my asthma is under control and review by my gp, thank you

[@azharsofjan9181]

This man needs to write a book! 🔥

[@israelmojica7852]

Underated area of the triathlon. Thanks for making this video

[@gtn]

Couldn't agree more - glad you found it helpful!

[@falynangel6594]

Great video! I remember reading the book the Slow Fat Triathlete and realizing the truth that the last person over the finish line was a Triathlete. That created a mental shift that even though I was middle aged and out of shape and not an athlete- I could become one. I then saw myself as one and completed my first sprint with the greatest feeling of gratitude for just making it through.

[@TODAY-kc5jk]

In my community, we are taught - properly motivated, a human can do 10x what is thought possible. When you think you are done and can't go any further, you do have much more in the tank.

[@paulmcintyre1223]

That was excellent and my favourite GTN video so far because it applies at all performance levels so I shared this in my own Triathlon Club. Thank you and I hope to see GTN at some more races this summer

[@gtn]

Thank you! we hope you and your club find it helpful

[@victorialucilleanne5483]

This is exactly what I needed to hear before my first race ever this weekend!!! All 3 sports are new to me and I started training around november last year! Such a great video and excited and very nervous to tackle my first sprint!

[@gtn]

Awesome to hear - good luck!

[@leandroburk]

Amazing. Yesterday i was swimming with "high elbow catch" in my mind, a true coincidence kkk

[@suttonfarms2343]

His advice is not only great for athletes and racing, but life overall. Great video. Thanks so much for your insight! :)

[@rhinson1]

This was a very great and inspirational interview. Thanks to you both!

[@gtn]

You're very welcome :)

[@houseboxholdingsinc.7810]

Possibly the most valuable GTN video ever. The mental side of triathlon is one of the most important and most overlooked aspect of training and racing. Dr. Jim Taylor's simple cues, eg. 3Ps, were really helpful. The fact that he is a triathlete helped drive home the utility and practical nature of his advice/guidance. Brilliant!

[@gtn]

Thank you for the kind words :) We're glad you enjoyed

[@zeevon9]

Great video with sound advice. Enjoyed watching.

[@mauricioaugustin6301]

One of my main goals as a triathlete is to have these mindset and a state of mind where u feel fulfilled as a person and u know that the only thing in your way is your mind

[@becmango]

Recent videos are on point. Solid work. 👌

[@gtn]

Appreciate it!

[@fifalianajoyride]

I really need this. I realize everyone starts to be in pain but I feel like I give in too easily. I need more of that stubbornness.

[@anthonydsouza4011]

So encouraging. Thanks

[@adventurecats4816]

This was great information. I know I will listen to this over and over to help keep my head in the game.

[@gtn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@blubbblubb6239]

please more videos on that topic!

[@IvyPerez_DreamBuilder]

So helpful!! Thank you so much. Will definitely watch & listen again.

[@jurgenfriedrich5352]

Great Video! Thank you!

[@ericleitner4930]

Such a great Video!!! thanks Dr. and GTN!

[@gtn]

Our pleasure!

[@atlosass]

This was an outstanding video. And super-timely for me, personally! I'm going for a marathon PR/BQ Saturday--I'm hoping I can implement a few of these tips on the fly.

[@gtn]

Best of luck Anthony!

[@bokehinfocus]

Thank you!! Incredibly helpful and exactly what I needed to hear!!

[@gtn]

Glad it was helpful! You're welcome :)

[@oein-trueendurancejosiah-r1726]

Thank you😇

[@corecreekproductions6533]

Fantastic video.

[@cristiansan]

Interesting, I learn a few things that I will apply during next sunday racing :) thanks

[@jobanski]

You know that is an aspect to endurance sport I have not actually considered. Thank you for the video!

[@gtn]

You're Welcome as always Jobanski!

[@christophmarquardt3304]

Hi. I like this video a lot. Dr. Taylor's "toolbox" approach to mental training really resonates with me. I'd like to inform myself a little more about the toolbox. Is there a book of Dr. Taylor's list that you can recommend? Thank you

[@debjames774]

Looking forward to the book 🙂

[@nextlevelwellness4638]

Love GTN and glad you covered this topic. I like the concept of five tools that one could employ at different times but wished he would have elaborated on how to develop the five tools and when to use them. This was a good overview on aspects of mental training but more actionable information would have been great.

[@DrJimTaylor]

Susan, that was precisely my goal; to provide an overview so everyone could understand how to think about mental training. You'll hopefully see some more specific segments in the future.

[@triboliderar4569]

The best video. Thanks 😊

[@gtn]

Glad you liked it!

[@deankrain]

Great interview. Took a lot from it

[@gtn]

Thank you! That's great :)

[@adhst]

Great video!!!

[@gtn]

Thank you!!

[@desmondyap5391]

Great talk. i just wanted to add, do watch a bunch of david goggins video here on youtube and you can be mentally tough.

[@suzannesharp5078]

quality video guys - really useful stuff

[@gtn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wilsonpotosirunner]

Excelente felicitaciones 👍

[@gtn]

Thanks Wilson!

[@wilsonpotosirunner]

@@gtn 🤜🤛

[@retrospectologyrunner]

Excellent

[@gtn]

Thank you so much 😀

[@angelag5708]

really interesting👍

[@gtn]

Glad you think so!

[@tri_sandrosilva]

Don’t get me wrong but this was one of the best vídeos you guys “gave me”. Top 👌

[@gtn]

Thanks 🙌

[@RunningWithDanny]

Hi GTN…I live in the south east of England, so you know if there are any Indoor triathlons taking place that I can sign up for ?

[@stolts34]

I teach high school students. I believe that's some powerful mental strength training.

[@Aquilrose44]

This is good content

[@gtn]

Thank you Jack!

[@pierret.5304]

Hey simple but important question as well, do you guys do triathlon bootcamp with followers ?

[@gtn]

Hi Pierre, We don't I'm afraid :(

[@likemarksee]

I’ve liked the video, but what a load of waffle! What point is he trying to make 🤷‍♂️. Concentrate on the real training and build confidence that way!

[@DrJimTaylor]

I agree that when you do the real training (I assume you mean swim, bike, and run training), it helps you mentally. At the same time, doing actual mental training, just like consistent and focused physical training, makes the mind even stronger. That's the point I'm trying to make. If you don't believe in it, you might ask just about all of the top tri-pros; most have sport psychologists or mental coaches they work with :->

[@likemarksee]

@@DrJimTaylorpros have many more pressures than amateur athletes and pros also have to contend with the big stage. I don’t think it’s fair to compare pros and amateurs in this regard. Amateur athletes need to balance their sporting life with work and family; motivation is individual. A dedicated amateur must consider where to invest their time. I’ll stick with my swim, bike, run training as well as S&C.

[@DrJimTaylor]

@@likemarksee Mark, I totally see and respect your position. it all depends how competitive triathletes are and what they're goals are. Yes, age-groupers have to balance work, family, and life with triathlon. But many are no less driven than the pros (they just have less talent or opportunity). At the highest level, whether pro or age-grouper, it's the marginal gains that make a real difference. And mental training is one way to make some marginal gains with relatively little time commitment (as I noted in this segment). It's not dissimilar to spending $1000s on a superbike, aero helmet, etc. (which could be spent on family, etc.). If triathletes want to gain every possible advantage, they do mental training. If not, that's their choice. Please do stick with the physical side of the sport and, most importantly, it's the meaning, satisfaction, and joy that matters most.