Ep 189: The Psychology of Performance: Race Day Revelations with Charlie Kyberd

🌟 Exciting news from the Run Culture Podcast! 🎙️ Today, I had an incredible conversation with Charlie Kyberd, an athlete I've had the pleasure of coaching as part of the Run Culture Owls over the past two years. It's been a journey of mutual growth, where Charlie has taught me just as much about sports psychology as I've shared with him.Prepare to be amazed as you listen to Charlie's insightful and eclectic mind at work! While his wit and intellect are among his greatest strengths, they have also posed challenges on race day. After a couple of years of stagnation in the 1500m and 800m events, Charlie has just come off an amazing track season, achieving 8 personal bests!In our chat, we dive into what sparked this breakthrough: his decision to take a gap year to focus on his dream of running the times needed for US college, his transformative training trip to Kenya, the power of belonging to a supportive team, and his relentless curiosity. We discuss his self-awareness, the ability to take constructive critique, and the invaluable insights he gained from sport psychology mentor; Richie Bennett, that helped him conquer race day nerves.Good luck, Charlie Kyberd! Your journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and growth. You’ll always be an Owl, and I can't wait to see what amazing experiences await you at Wingate University! 🦉