How BIG is the Distance Between 1st and 2nd Place?

Limitless Athletes by Crazy Muscle

In the 2016 summer Olympic games in Rio, Damir Martin of Croatia and Mahé Drysdale of New Zealand found themselves literally NECK AND NECK rowing to the finish line on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Martin was clearly in the lead but in the last 500 meter stretch, Drysdale started making the comeback of a lifetime...inching his way closer and closer to Martin as he eventually caught up at the finish line.

Both men crossed the finish line with a time of 6:41:34.

The race clock didn’t even have the capability of measuring any further so the judges had to review several finish line photos to see who the actual winner was.

One centimeter.

One thousands of a second.

In the end, Drysdale was awarded the gold medal by simply crossing the finish line 0.001 seconds faster than Martin.

One thousands of a second is a TINY measure of time. One centimeter is a TINY measure of length...at least it is to you and me.

Try asking Damir Martin and he might have a different opinion about how BIG 0.001 seconds or 1 centimeter actually is.

You’re on a path that so few humans ever dare tread...

Working (and sweating) as tirelessly as you do means you’re in competition to be the *very* best you can be. And there’s a great chance you’re one of the best in your gym.

BUT…

At the top of any scale, the difference between first place and second is almost indiscernible--except to you.

So how do you squeeze in that tiny last bit of excellence and put 2nd place where it belongs?

Details. We love to sweat the small stuff.

Obviously I have no insight into the training regimen for either athlete, but I honestly wouldn’t be too surprised if it turned out that the winner had an insanely detailed ritual for every aspect of his training.

I compiled a short list of rules you can use to make sure you don’t miss any details that might cost you 1st place of whatever game you’re playing. Check it out:

1. Teams -- if you’re lucky enough to have a workout partner, that’s great. For many of us, working out with another is distracting and counterproductive. But if you know the value of accountability, it can be worth another look--even if you both just walk in and out of the gym at the same time. Knowing you’ll be sharing your workout results on the ride home can be enough to ensure you don’t cut corners.
2. Processes -- if you’ve been on the weights for any length of time, there’s a chance you hit some complacency, one time or another. One way this happens is by working your routine by memory. Stick it to paper, and write in the reps, sets, weights and check off each item as you go. This can be an invaluable tool for precision.
3. Reach High -- understand that most of the time, the goals we set shouldn’t be hit. That’s because the purpose of a goal isn’t to hit it...the purpose of a goal is to become the kind of person who is capable of achieving that goal. Reach higher and shoot past what you feel is “reasonable” and push yourself harder to hit that crazy goal.
4. Get Fresh -- have you been going to the same gym, in the same outfits, with the same gloves and the same hour for a long time? You get the picture here… switching up these (and 100 other details) can give you the mental edge to avoid mistakes. Be on the lookout for new music, spend a little extra on nicer workout clothes, reach out to a friend and ask if you can join them in one of their workout sessions.
5. Stomp Distractions -- too much sensory input reduces focus and increases your likelihood of making mistakes. Consider leaving the phone in the car, working out at a low-traffic time (assuming you work out at a gym), and keeping conversations to a minimum inside the gym. All are vital to you becoming the best version of you possible.