Peak Performance Psychology for Endurance Athletes

Increasingly, across the globe, coaches and athletes are coming to a key realisation: in the battle for podium placings in major competitions, where, as a 'ticket of admission', event finalists have very similar physiological profiles, the 'difference that really makes the difference' between medalling and being an also-ran is psychological preparation. The progressively unrelenting urge to slow down and stop needs effective counter-strategies. Peak Performance Psychology for Endurance Athletes is unique in pulling fundamental theory and science-based practice together in a new multidisciplinary psycho-physiological model: The Performance Space. Building on four theories- self-efficacy, revised reinforcement sensitivity, theory of challenge and threat states in athletes and the psychobiological model of endurance-this model aids skilful navigation through the seemingly complex interaction between personality, psychological skills, emotional regulation and self-monitoring. The end-result is practical and easily incorporated methods to elicit high-performance states and behaviours that can be maintained from the beginning to the end of an event. Key highlights include: turning threat into challenge, building belief, using imagery, self-talk and goal pursuit in a unified process, ideal performance states, staying on track, developing resilience, as well as presenting numerous athlete examples to bring the model to life for easy assimilation. Written for performance psychologists, coaches, elite and recreational athletes, this is a go-to-text for tools that can be integrated into all aspects of training and racing.

Lewis Walker, PhD is a UKA Level 2 Coach specialising in 800/1500m to 100K Road Ultra, including Mountain and Trail Running. He has worked with Great Britain representatives at World and European Indoors, Commonwealth Games, European U23 Track and Cross-country, World Mountain, World Ultra Trail and Road Championships as well as numerous Scottish, English, Irish and Finnish vests on track, road, cross-country, mountains. His athletes have recently set World Records (Master's 4x800m) and medalled in World Mountain and Trail Championships. He has a Master's degree in Elite Performance Psychology developing The Performance Space Model and is a former General Practitioner with a keen interest in Sports Medicine, Exercise Physiology & Sports Psychology. He is also a podcasting co-host on the acclaimed long running Tartan Running Shorts podcast.

1. Introduction to the Performance Space Model 2. Challenge and Threat States in Athletes 3. Personality Speaking 4. Words that Influence Athletes Minds 5. Can You Believe It! 6. Goal-Getting: What do you Really Want? 7. Imagine This! 8. Yes But...It's How You Say It That Counts! 9. Are You In The Right State To Get It Done? 10. Staying on Track 11. Mindfully Hypnotic 12. Coaching Leadership 13. The Resilient Athlete 14. The Performance Space in Action: Case Studies