Mental Training Secrets from an Olympic Sports Psychologist

In this episode, we sit down with Stu Holliday, a chartered sports psychologist with 12 years of experience working at the highest levels of sport. Stu currently serves as the GB Olympic Swimming Psychologist and has worked with GB Archery, England Netball, and Liverpool Football Academy. He's also the co-author of "The Psychology of Running" and founder of Endurance Mind Coaching, where he brings elite-level mental training to amateur endurance athletes.

We explore what separates the mental approach of pros from amateurs, and how anyone can start training their mind alongside their body. Stu shares practical frameworks for building mental resilience, managing pre-race nerves, and pushing through the hardest moments of racing.

Key topics covered:

• Why mental toughness isn't fixed - and how to actually train it
• The biggest mindset difference between elites and amateurs
• Reframing pre-race nerves as excitement
• Self-talk strategies: motivational vs. instructional
• Why visualization two weeks before your race is too late
• Preparing for "what if" scenarios so you don't panic mid-race
• The post-race debrief most athletes skip
• Finding joy again when training starts feeling like a grind

Find out more on www.endurancemindcoaching.com