Think Like a Bumblebee,
Train Like a Racehorse
By Ben Bergeron CrossFit New England January 2012
Think Like a Bumblebee
Bumblebees are relatively huge, furry insects with tiny little
wings that fly with incredible speed, accuracy and agility.
NASA scientists were infatuated with the bumblebee.
How could something that big and furry fly with such
little wings? So they studied the bumblebee. The thought
process was that if they could replicate the physics of the
bumblebee, they could build air crafts and weapons of
similar ability.
After extensive research, the scientists unanimously came
to the same conclusion: bumblebees can’t fly. The physics
behind bumblebees simply say they are too large and too
heavy. But here is the interesting part: No one told the
bumblebee it can’t fly, so it goes right on flying. It flies even
though the smartest people on Earth doubt it can.
Because the bee has ultimate faith in itself, it is able to do
amazing things. You, as an athlete, need to have unyielding
belief in yourself. Don’t let your past, your peers, your family
or your competitors limit your performance. You, like the
bee, can fly if you believe you can.
Train Like a Racehorse
Racehorses are just like other elite athletes. They know
they are athletes, and they know they are different from
the other horses.
They train with heart-rate monitors. They do intervals and
lactate-threshold training. They eat a special diet designed
to improve performance. They have coaches, and they get
nervous on race day just like you.
The difference between racehorses and you is racehorses
don’t second-guess their training program, their abilities or
their coaches. Racehorses go all out when asked to; they
don’t save something for tomorrow. You’ll never see a
racehorse doing extra laps around the track because it felt
like it should be doing more. Racehorses don’t look at other
horses’ training programs and freak out because the other
horses are doing double days. Racehorses just do exactly
what is asked of them—nothing more, nothing less.
Racehorses have 100 percent commitment to their program,
to their coaches and to being the best they can be.
How much extra energy do you spend examining the
programming of other gyms or athletes? Do you jump
from site to site, never letting the benefits of a single
program take effect?
How about comparing yourself with other athletes? Do
you think racehorses build up extra anxiety by comparing
their times or bodies with other horses? Racehorses, just
like you as an elite athlete, have one purpose in their lives:
to get faster and stronger, to be better.
If you are a strong athlete and have a good coach and live
your life with a singular purpose with a singular focus on
one goal, one mission, you will become elite.
The take-home message is to have complete belief in
yourself. Believing you are capable is the first and most
important step in becoming elite. Second, you must train
with purpose. If you are constantly second-guessing, you
undermine your accomplishments and will never reach
the highest levels.
Think like a bumblebee, train like a racehorse.
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