If you clicked on this video and you're 100m #sprinter, you're curious about this question because on one level, these 2 elements seem to counteract eachother. Actually this is an issue that effects all athletes regardless of the event, #sprinting or endurance. But both are considered virtues. If you watch athletics on TV, you'll hear the pundits compliment an athlete on their work rate in competition and then compliment an athlete's relaxation (normally a sprinter) on another race. Now you can't work hard and be relaxed at the same time, can you? Which one is right? And if both are right, how do you work out the balance? Good Question. And an important one. On one level, both interact with eachother but essentially, they are 2 very different things and that's the way you have to see it. Effort is more associated with physical action and relaxation is a mental state so you do not try and mix the two. You have to see them as layers. Your body is strong and robust against injury whenn it has a base of relaxation. It is weak and brittle under a base of stress and anxiety. My Be-Activated sessions demonstrate this perfectly. Under a base of stress and anxiety, you're muscles switch off and you become weaker. You also let tension to rise up in you which will tighten you. You will not be able to utilise power under tension and you're range of motion will be inhibited. So you need a base of relaxation and when you have set that foundation, you can then put effort on top of it. And the efort you put on top will be used properly. I can remember this being the case in my fastest 400m races and, as a sprinter, you'll relate to this. I was pumping my arms powerfully but I had a base of relaxation that allowed me to do that. Notably, I was using effort in the right way and there was no tension. You can use effort without tension but very few sprinters (or anybody for that matter) do it. That's where they fall down. They do not distinguish between the two. I have no idea why this is not talked about more in sport but the fact is, it isn't. Relaxation is a crucial part of sprinting technique training. In my Be-Activated sessions, I set this exact base of relaxation and I show the athlete how they can apply it in there racing and life. I activate all the muscles that have switched off or lost significant functional power. If this is the case with you (which as it is with all athletes) then there are compensation patterns that are weakening you and limiting your capacity for optimal performance. What I do is actibate those muscles so that the body is reset in it's natural state. This brings about a sense of calmness and relaxation but also energy and lightness and looseness This is the perfect base for you to apply effort and one of the very few ways of getting "in the flow". If you live near Taunton, Somerset then this is a perfect opportunity to book a session with me. Go here to book. http://www.thegreatathletenexus.com/contact/ for all you other people, do things that will set that base of relaxation. Go to watch my video on breathing to learn one major way you can bring this about. the link is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ipcKWUHL54&t=3s ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bYSYGdDRno

It's often a massive trap that sprinters fall into when they see another slow time in 100m. Being hard on themselves. "I should have run faster" is the most common thought pattern. It happens to athletes in any event. The thought pattern leads to what went wrong first and the dissatisfaction lingers for days. And this happens to the coach as well. But the problem is that it doesn't work and being hard on yourself actually kills your speed and kills your progress. It's often a massive trap that sprinters fall into when they see another slow time in 100m. being hard on themselves. "I should have run faster" is the most common thought pattern. It happens to athletes in any event. The thought pattern leads to what went wrong first and the dissatisfaction lingers for days. And this happens to the coach as well. The problem is you often hear of an athlete especially on TV. "He's never satisfied, he always wants more" and it's seen as a virtue because most people think dissatisfaction is the energy that gives him/her that edge to get faster times. However there is a problem with this and also a misunderstanding when we see that dissatisfaction in other athletes. Also there is a distinct downside to thinking this way and it can ruin careers and seriously effect an athlete's mental state. In my experience as a 400m athlete and as a coach, I recognise this thought pattern again and again and witness how it hinders athletes' progress. The dissatisfaction of the athlete after a race can be corrosive. It breeds negativity and an athlete, especially a sprinter can wallow in that negativity. In this negativity, they will miss the good things about the race which would inspire them more than the negative things. If you are a sprinter, athlete or coach then you need to watch this video. As a coach, you maybe concerned about how your athletes are getting demoralised by lack of progress. In this video, I go into the following: Why that dissatisfaction with your times is bad Why elite world class athletes (with great intentions) draw the wrong conclusions from this philosophy and, in turn, teach us these wrong conclusions. My personal experience of dissatisfaction and how I used anger in the right way to run a PB. What to do instead of dissatisfaction. For more info or to book a 1-1 Be-Activated Session with me, please go to http://www.thegreatathletenexus.com/about-me/ Enjoy the vid. Andy Disclaimer: I am not a sports psychologist. These are my own views and experiences and this should be recognised when applying any of the advice in this video. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxdgetrQi6w