How Can I Get 1% Better Today?
The answer – Win The First 3 Steps.
1% Better — The first 3 steps, lessons learned from running gassers.
It is basic physics that it takes considerably more force to begin motion while pushing on an
object, compared to the amount of force to maintain movement.
A gasser is a continuous sprint, back and forth across the width of the football field 5 times.
Over, back, over, back, over was the instruction shouted by the coach in charge. This roughly
covered 266 yards, no small task for an offensive lineman after a two and a half to three hour
practice. To complicate matters there was a timed element involved, failure to make a time
meant an additional gasser. Also adding to the challenge was that four times the participant had
to stop all of their momentum, switch directions and create movement once again.
I became very efficient at this task over my three years under this coach. At one time it seemed
a monumental challenge as a freshman, now as a Junior it became an automatic success. I
know what you are thinking, you became a better athlete, unfortunately not. My mental scheme
changed during the transition phase. 90% of the activity was a mindless stride across the field,
the mental challenge came as there was a stop then start to change direction. As a freshman I
used the transition to slow, even pause to steal some rest. Over time I found this approach
never gave me adequate recovery, yet created a large amount of energy to get going. I lost
many, priceless seconds in transition. The more mature me saw the transition as a great
opportunity to bolster success. As I hit the sideline I turned quickly and powered through three
explosive steps until I achieved my stride. The difference in my attitude, when it came to
transition, moved my performance in the middle of the pack to a leader.
Application. The alarm goes off in the morning, WIN the first three steps. They are stiff,
awkward, and sometimes painful, but by the time you have reached the end of the bed you have
created a great start. Those steps feel the same at 8 am as they do at 4:30 am, I know from
experience. Help yourself “Win the Day” by a quick transition from complete rest to productivity.
The discomfort lasts for three steps and the rewards last a lifetime.
Get 1% better today
Phil Wickwar