Why are you doing it?

I have read a lot recently around the topic of direction, purpose and how finding your 'why' is so important, I couldn't agree more. Have you ever taken the time out of your day to sit back and just think, think about what you do that makes you feel happy, what makes you say "I have had a great day today"?

I have been on one hell of a ride over these past few months (haven't we all...) though it is the small things that have made it an enjoyable experience, enjoying the h…

I. Am. Fed. Up.

Fed up of hearing sports commentators discuss a professional athlete’s weight, size and body shape. Fed up of watching runners – and more importantly, friends – lose their way in the sport in attempts to achieve some sort of aesthetic or “ideal.” Fed up of hearing how scary sugar and fat and carbohydrate is. Fed up of being unable to help.

I’m fed up of the obsession we have with athlete’s bodies. Do they have a period? Have they lost/gained weight? Are they eating enough? Are …

Stressors can often feel overwhelming for athletes. Constant judgement from being in a results-driven environment, concerns about contracts not being renewed, receiving criticism from significant others, demanding schedules, and the inevitable injuries are all stressors that athletes must frequently navigate. Stressors such as these have the potential to undermine their mental health, with studies indicating that athletes are prone to experiencing clinical anxiety and depression. Accordingly, it…

On your marks, set *BANG*

Down, set, hut

*Whistle*

These are all different cues that let an athlete know that it is time to lock in, all sending the same stimuli through the body…

Getting ready to compete.

Through this piece, I want to have a self-reflecting debate about the differences in mentality between rugby, American football, athletics and football.

I have managed to be fortunate enough to be a national age group champion for 60m and 100m, as well as playing academy football, acad…

If you could talk to your younger self, I wonder what you’d say?

Would you tell yourself to stop putting so much pressure on yourself?

Would you tell yourself that fast times aren’t determined by what you eat?

Would you tell yourself that thinner doesn’t equal faster?

I certainly would.

I had known for a while that something wasn’t quite right. Irregular menstrual cycles... cold hands and feet... always tired... lean, but not strong. I knew there was something, but didn’t want to admit it. …

At 13, I was a great high jumper and combined eventer with a lot of potential. By the time I was 17, my future in athletics had more or less come to an end, and it had nothing to do with injuries or a lack of passion for athletics. I felt alone, had no guidance, not enough money, and had made little progress over the few years that I had been competing. Growing up in Cornwall and being isolated from the athletics community was a big part of that, but ultimately my decision to leave the sport cam…

Author Biography:

Name: Eugene Amo-Dadzie

Age: 30

Event: 100m (PB = 9.93s)

Performance Level: International

Contribution topic area: Mindset

Who Am I?

I am a Christian, qualified chartered accountant, husband, and father to the most beautiful girl in the world. I made the decision to take up the sport at the age of 26 after a good friend of mine asked me why I had never considered pursuing a sport I have always been very passionate about. I guess the rest is history as here I am 4 seaso…