My new mantra comes from the “Diary of a CEO” podcast. The story, adapted for ultrarunning below, is simple yet profound. I plan to use this concept in my races this year, hoping for a successful season. I’m sharing the relevant transcript because of its powerful application to ultrarunning.
Diary of a CEO – For those of you who might not be familiar, Sir David Brailsford is the mastermind behind British cycling’s transformation from mediocrity to global dominance. He was now leading performance at Manchester United under the new INEOS ownership.
Many years ago, when Sir David took over as performance director of British cycling, they hadn’t won an Olympic gold medal in nearly a century. Under his leadership, they didn’t just win, they dominated, securing multiple gold medals and Tour De France victories, but what struck me most when I first met Sir David wasn’t his impressive list of victories.
It was his intense focus on mindset and psychology, which I’m now convinced is what made those victories possible.
When our cyclist became fixated on the podium, on the medals, the glory. Their performance suffers.
It’s a subtle shift, but it’s profound. The podium exists in the future, a place beyond our immediate control. The more they obsess over standing on that podium and winning that medal, the less attention may pay to the one thing that actually matters, the present moment, the rotation of the pedals beneath them.
So we changed our approach. We told them to forget about the podium. Instead, focus entirely on the pedals, each rotation.
Each breath.
Each muscle contraction. This is where success is truly forged.
The simplicity of focusing on the immediate. The tangible. The now. It was a lesson that transcends cycling. One that can be applied to any endeavor pursued by any of us in any of our lives.
Studies on mindfulness, a practice rooted in staying present, show that those who Focus on the now rather than an uncertain future experience less anxiety, greater Focus and improved performance across a variety of different tasks.
Studies prove when we become preoccupied with potential outcomes, like whether we’ll win a race or if our company is going to die, the brain’s default mode network, DMN, becomes highly active.
This network, which is involved in self-referential thinking, which is basically thinking about yourself too much, can lead to overthinking and heightened stress, which puts you off performing at your best.
But, conversely, when we anchor our attention in the present moment, regions of the brain associated with focus and task execution, such as the prefrontal cortex, become more engaged, which enhances our ability to perform at our best. Sir David’s approach teaches us a fundamental truth. Ironically, when we focus too much on the outcome, we end up sabotaging the very actions needed to achieve it.
We become distracted or paralyzed by the weight of our expectations, but by narrowing our focus to the here and now, by mastering each stroke, each moment, we align our actions with our intentions, setting the stage for success.
So whether you’re an athlete peddling toward the finish line or an entrepreneur navigating the turbulent waters of business, an artist crafting your next masterpiece, or simply someone striving to find balance in life’s complexities, remember, Focus on the pedals, not the podium. Success isn’t a destination, it’s a journey comprised of countless moments where we choose to be fully present.
The podium, the accolades, the achievements, the milestones, are merely the byproduct of our commitment to mastering each moment, each rotation of the pedals. I always tell people, you wouldn’t plant a seed and then dig it up every few minutes to see if it had grown. So why do you keep questioning yourself, your hard work and your decisions? Have patience. Keep watering your seeds.
This is a core principle of success: the ability to disregard the distraction of the finish line and its reward, and instead focus on the single task at hand. Our brains are story-driven machines that need to know the suffering we endure is worth the effort. So, they create a narrative fixated on the finish. Repeating the mantra “Feet over Finish” breaks that cycle. It removes the distraction of the finish line, interrupts the brain’s looping thoughts, and pulls you out of default mode.
To succeed, focus on the singular moment, the single stride. The next time you struggle during a race, focus on your breath, perhaps using a breathing pattern. This should bring you back to the present. If it doesn’t, repeat “Feet over Finish.”
In your next race, use “Feet over Finish” to refocus. Stop complaining; focus solely on your feet. It’s all you can control: your feet moving, your arms swinging, your hands taking in fuel. Ultras may seem complicated with all their variables, but successful runners excel at focusing their attention where it matters most – on what’s important now , not on winning or reaching the finish line. Ironically, by intensely focusing on each moment, you eventually achieve both. That’s it! It’s surprisingly simple. You don’t need 100 mile weeks filled with 20,000 vert climbing! ☺️ Just kidding, put in the work too before you get there! Words won’t do it alone, but they will help more than you think.
Thanks for reading! What’s your mantra? Let me know in the comments below!
Patrick is an ultrarunner and coach from Philadelphia who loves documenting his running career. His mission is to provide useful tips and tricks to assist others along their ultra journey. You can find his coaching services at https://ultraruncoach.com.
