Trust and Confidence through Consistency - Michaela Keller-Miller
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- By Michaela Keller-Miller
Trust and Confidence through Consistency
The pursuit of excellence in skiing oftentimes feels like a Sisyphean task. You need to
consider technique, balance, strength, power, endurance, and sustainable speed. Add
shooting into the mix for biathlon and the list goes on. These components can be
maximized through summer training. However, equally important is having the
confidence in these skills. I can be in the best shape of my life, but as soon as I start
doubting, the result will deteriorate quickly.
So, I’ve been spending my summer both training hard and working toward a headspace
where I confidently trust both myself and the skiing and biathlon skills I’ve sharpened
through dedication and consistency. The problem with self-doubt is that it snowballs;
failing to believe in myself makes a poor result more likely, and believing that a bad
result is just where I’m at is a death sentence preventing a change in outcome. I’m
learning that retraining these belief systems requires as much consistency as the
physical training.
Strong support systems that believe in me are greatly appreciated, but it’s ultimately up
to me whether I believe I can achieve my goals. Here are some thoughts on how I’m
moving toward unshakeable confidence this summer:
1. Be open and communicate! Let your coaches know how you’re doing and find
a sports psychologist or therapist to come up with mental strategies. I was having
race-related anxiety last winter that was intertwined with self-doubt, and it kept
me from sleeping well before many races. Once I admitted to myself that this was
a problem, I promised myself I’d find a therapist to work with. It’s oftentimes hard
to find a sports psychologist (and they’re usually not covered by insurance), but a
therapist can still help with anxiety-related components of sport. Also realize that
many of your friends and teammates also struggle with confidence and that
talking about it can be helpful. Encouraging your training partners and instilling
confidence in others brings everyone up!
2. Think about a race or workout when you felt confident and you executed
well. It’s okay to go back to an earlier time. For me, I had relatively
unencumbered confidence in high school running. I really believed that if I was
patient and kept working hard, I could be the best. I’m a way stronger athlete
now, so pairing my current fitness with the previous trust I had in myself is sure to
lead to good things.
3. Find a mantra and keep repeating it. Right now, I’m using “trust” as a mantra.
Whenever I feel doubt creeping in, I remind myself to trust. This applies to
trusting my training, trusting that I’ve put in the work to hit targets, trusting that I
can be the fastest. The first mantra I remember using was “believe.” One of my
high school cross country coaches, Addy Hallen, drilled into us that we had to believe in ourselves and our teammates. What we did with that belief is still one of my fondest sport memories, as we went on to be the first non-New York high school to win Nike Cross Nationals (big throwback from the glory days!!).
The power of belief! Bonus if you can spot other
current American skiers and biathletes.
4. If there’s a specific physical skill (skiing or shooting) that you’re doubting, come
up with a concrete plan to improve. Stick to the plan and trust that the work
you’ve put in will show itself come race day.
5. Keep showing up. Skiing and biathlon are incredibly physically and mentally
challenging sports. It may feel easier to walk away or avoid putting your full
energy toward your goals. If you’re competing in cross country skiing or biathlon,
you probably have goals, whether it’s winning races or finishing the Birkie. I’m still
racing at an elite level because I want to see what I’m capable of when I’m
physically and mentally at my best. It’s okay to not feel 100% all the time, but you
do have to consistently show up and put your best foot forward on any given day.
Credit for shooting vid: US Biathlon
With so many exciting possibilities this upcoming winter and with it being an Olympic
year, I want to make sure I’m not leaving anything on the table. It’d be a disservice to
my many supporters and me to spend so many hours training without also considering
the mental component of racing. So, not only will I spend the rest of the summer
sharpening my skiing and shooting, but I’ll also place a strong focus on my mindset.
I hope that everyone is happy, healthy, and enjoying summer training,
Michaela Keller-Miller