This excellent video by the entertaining folks at TRS gives great insight into the lifestyle of one the world’s greatest athletes.
Still going strong at the age of forty-three, Greg Bennett is certainly no spring chicken. That said, he knows how to get the most out of his mind, body and spirit. More importantly, though, is his emphasis on all the little things. Whether immersed in an ice bath, getting regular sports massage or just lying around recovering, all of these seemingly “little things” add to that great cliché known as the “bigger picture.” As Bennett alludes to, keeping the body healthy is often more difficult than just training hard. And rightly so. Anybody can just go out there and flog themselves but as the old saying goes, stress and rest equals training.
Whilst mastering the little things takes time and no small amount patience, the key perhaps is to not let them become all consuming. Otherwise known as “fluff”, this description only applies once complementary therapies and practices overtake the actual bread-and-butter basic training principles in terms of priority and importance. Various training and lifestyle “hacks” are the antithesis to most important factor for success in whatever sport: getting the basics right.
And one guy seems to be mastering is rather well.
The header image of James Cunnama was taken just before his embarking on an extended international campaign. The smiling demeanour perhaps masks the underlying pressure after a couple of seasons blighted by injury. Clearly intent on getting his professional career back on track, the driven South African candidly related on how one former world champion had lost the plot.
“He’s finished,” he declared curtly, before going on to add that “if he stops stressing about the little things he could come right.”
Curt? Laconic?
More like profound and a few major international victories of late could perhaps validate that.
