Most serious swimmers put in the same amount of time training each and every week. Why is it that only a select few of these athletes will end up getting more out of their practices, and as a result, improve faster and go further in the sport than the majority of their teammates? The answer has to do with HOW they practice.

Your training and health being equal, what you concentrate on at meets is the main cause of your best and worst swims. When you struggle with going faster in practice than races, faster in your off-events than your best ones or being unable to break through and get a certain time, faulty concentration is usually the main cause.

On the first Tuesday of each month, Dr. Alan Goldberg will cover a different aspect of mental training and help you put more tools in your mental toughness tool box. Today he talks about the importance of training you mind as well as your body, and offers some tips for staying calm pre-race.