8 minute read
Sports Psychology .....................................................18
US Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel recently shared that she had to let her body recover after being diagnosed with overtraining syndrome in her preparation for the US Olympic Trials. Her body was fatigued, and she suffered from depression. She was forced to rest for three weeks – which is an eternity for this exceptional athlete – during which time she knew her competition was training. Yet, she yielded and did what was necessary. Early in the trials, she experienced disappointment when she didn’t qualify for the US Olympic swimming team in the 100 freestyle, her signature event. Later that week, she earned a spot on the team in the 50M freestyle.
As frustrating and discouraging as injuries and setbacks are, working through it and having the optimism that the goal will be achieved builds the character of a champion. Avoiding negative self-talk and rhetoric – “why did this happen?” or “why me?” – and replacing these thoughts with “what can I now do differently or how can I learn from this experience?” is key.
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PATIENCE IN THE TIMING FOR ACHIEVING OUR GOAL. Things may not always unfold when we think they should. Flora Duffy, achieved a gold medal in her fourth Olympic Games, and part of that journey included a cycle crash in the 2012 Olympic Games. In these disappointing and soul-defeating moments, as athletes, we have a choice to either let the challenge consume us and give-up, or trust in the timing of the journey. In those moments, we may not be receptive to the saying “all in good time” but we must dig deep within ourselves to know that it will happen, just perhaps not quite when we had hoped or planned.
PATIENCE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
TEAM MEMBERS AND COACHES. The coach and athlete must have confidence in one another because occasionally, tough choices will be made with respect to training or practice. The risk is that if the desired results don’t happen, we may default to self-criticism or doubt in others. In team sports, when the outcome isn’t ideal, the tendency is to blame teammates who we perceive have fallen short or contributed to a loss. It is more important to reflect, adjust and refocus and avoid wasting time individually and collectively on what could or should have been done. Instead, leverage the energy of everyone involved to motivate and identify new strategies and the support to implement them.
PATIENCE AND HUMILITY TO KEEP THE GOAL AS IS BUT ADJUST THE TIMING. Believe in yourself. Adjustments are often made by course correcting the training, not the end goal. As athletes, our minds are fixated on the timing of the goal. We may know intellectually that growth and development often don’t occur in a straight line but often it doesn’t feel that way. Use the verbal feedback from coaches and peers and/or the results as fuel to course correct and refocus.
PATIENCE AS PART OF YOUR STRATEGY. To be the best you can be and possibly reach the top of the podium, patience is a key part of your strategy. Mastering the art of patience allows athletes to develop an edge – to remain calm, to keep their eye on the end goal. It can make the difference in your confidence, and it can prove unsettling to your competition.
One of my favorite sayings is “everything is as it should be”. If we believe and trust that when we do what’s within our control and let go of what isn’t, the accolades and achievements will come. Embrace the journey for both the experiences and the celebrations that follow. Do the work, believe in yourself, and have the patience and maintain the belief that success will follow.
Pushing the envelope in a man’s world Woman in the long-distance race
Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb is the first woman to unofficially run and complete a 26-mile Marathon in 1966. It was believed that women were not physically able to run long distances and were limited to events of a mile and a half. Bobbi’s achievement contradicted the belief that women could not do it and impelled a second wave of women to give them a chance.
On April 19, 1967, at age 20, Kathrine Switzer lined up to run the Boston Marathon, an event that women were still not allowed to compete in. At the second of the 26 miles, race official, Jock Semple trying to grab her bib number and stop her from competing in the event, but was shoved to the ground by Switzer’s boyfriend, Thomas Miller, who was running with her, and she was able to complete the race. Katherine had noticed that the rule book for the marathon made no mention of gender, so she registered for the race using her official Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) number, paid the full race fee, attained her certificate of fitness, and signed the entry form, K.V. Switzer. She finished the marathon in 4 hours 20 minutes and made history, becoming the first woman to run in a marathon as an officially registered competitor.
Even though the rule book made no reference of gender, officials maintained that Switzer was issued a number in error and was therefore treated as an intruder. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) did not allow women to take part in races with men, it was not until 1972 that women would be accepted in marathons when the Boston Marathon official introduced a women’s category. Her finishing time was nearly an hour behind the unofficial first female finisher, Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb, who had been refused a race registration.
Boston Athletic Association Director Will Cloney, who had rejected Bobbi Gibb’s entry into the Boston Marathon in 1966, maintained that “Women can’t run in the Marathon because the rules forbid it. Unless we have rules, society will be in chaos. I do not make the rules, but I try to carry them out. We have no space in the Marathon for any unauthorized person, even a man. If that girl were my daughter, I would spank her.”
Because of Switzer’s official entry into and completion of the marathon, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) barred women from all competitions with male runners, with violators losing the right to compete in any races. Switzer, along with other women runners, tried to convince the Boston Athletic Association to allow women to participate in the marathon and it was not until 1972, that the Boston Marathon established an official women’s class.
Katherine went on to run 39 marathons, winning the New York City Marathon in 1974, second in the 1975 Boston Marathon, was named Female Runner of the Decade (1967–77) by Runner’s World Magazine and inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
Patrice Ford (Smith) at age17 was denied entry in the Martin Luther King Memorial Race. Merernette Bean is the first woman to win the newly introduced woman’s division of the May 24th Derby in 1976.
To the best of my knowledge, why women did not compete in long-distance races prior to 1975 in Bermuda is un-recorded, but it is probably for the same reasons. Patrice Ford and Merenette Bean were two promising female runners in short-distance events. They would battle each other for dominance, but no one really took notice until Patrice was refused entry into the Martin Luther King Memorial Race promoted by, H.H. Brown.
The Race was held in conjunction with the annual Agriculture Exhibition. It started at John Smith Bay and finished at the Agricultural Show arena. Patrice’s older brothers, John ‘Buddy’ and Russ Ford had won the race in previous 5 years. John won three years in a row (1970 - ‘72) and Russ was second to him the third year and won the next two years (1973 - ‘74) before aging out. All three siblings trained under Allan “Forty” Rego and were known for running barefooted.
Patrice with her husband, Bob Smith in 2021.
When Patrice signed up to run the annual Martin Luther King Road race, her entry was refused, she was told that ‘women are not allowed’. But in time, and with changes in the world of running, Patrice Ford (now Smith) would run the May 24th Derby once, she placed 5th in 1978 and then retired from running.
With things in the running world changing internationally, Merernette Bean would make history once a woman’s class was created in the May 24th Derby. In 1976, women could run in the May 24th Derby for the first time and a 16-year-old Merernette Bean, who trained with her brother Cal Bean, won the new category with a time of two hours, 9 minutes and10 seconds. Her win also added to the record books that it was the first time a brother and sister would win in the same year.
Patrice ran in the May 24th Derby once with her coach, Anthony Stoneham in 1978.
Jane Christie won in 1983 and fifteen years later in 1998.
Deon Breary won in 2011 and 2017. Ashley Estwanik (nee Couper) has won six times.
Lynn Patchett was victorious in 2002 and 2005. Anna Etherley has six titles,1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004.
Victoria Fiddick was the winner in 2009.
Karen Adams won in 1996 and 1997. Debbie Butterfield has won seven times and is second on the all-time win list to Sandra Mewett who has eight wins.
Dawn Richardson won in 2006 and 2007. Rose-Ann Hoey has won three times and is the 2021 champion
Nikki Butterfield has one victory in 2018.
Maria Conroy Haydon (left) could have won in 1994 but collapsed on King Street handing Sandra Mewett her eighth win. Maria would pick up her only win the following year. Jennifer Alen (right) could have won the Derby in 2011, but with one mile to go she collapsed and did not finish, handed Dion Breary her first win.
Ashley Couper has both the course records from Somerset (1:21:24) set in 2014 and from St. George’s (1:22:43) set in 2015.
