My Approach

Train your brain to perform under pressure

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The Racing Brain vs Training Brain Framework

Why Your Training Brain Fails on Race Day

You don’t compete with the same brain you practice with. Pressure flips a switch – and if you’re not prepared, the tools that worked in training disappear when it matters most.

Most mental training is designed for your Training Brain – the calm, controlled state you’re in during practice. That’s when complex strategies, detailed instructions, and your full mental toolkit are available.

But on race day, your Racing Brain takes over. Heart rate spikes, stress hormones flood your system, and your focus narrows. Suddenly, only one or two simple thoughts are possible.

The problem? You don’t race with your Training Brain. Most athletes are practice heroes who race inconsistently because they’re relying on tools that don’t work under pressure.

How to Train Your Racing Brain

You can’t eliminate pressure, but you can train your brain to perform inside it. Here some examples of simple, proven tools that work when your Racing Brain takes over.
Simple Anchor Words
One-word cues that cut through stress and narrowed focus like “Drive,” “Power,” “Next.”
Why it works: Complex technical cues vanish under pressure, but single words stick.
Micro-Focus
Focus on the next 10 strokes instead of the whole race.
Why it works: Shrinks overwhelming goals into manageable chunks, keeping you present and engaged.
Pre-Race Plan
Make tactical choices before the race begins.
Why it works: Removes the need for complex decision-making when your Racing Brain is overloaded.
Embrace the Blowup 
Accept that failure is possible — and race all-out anyway.
Why it works: Fear of blowing up makes athletes hold back. Removing that fear unlocks full effort.

Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

This is what it looks like when an athlete races fully inside their Racing Brain – uncomfortable, unpredictable, and uncontrolled – while trusting their training and focusing on the task in front of them.

The Science Behind Competition Performance

Traditional approaches try to keep athletes calm. My method teaches you to perform effectively within the activated state – because you can’t eliminate fear or activation, you must perform within it.
Train your brain with the same precision you train your body.
  • Managing stress hormones under pressure
  • Maintaining focus while in a threat‑response state
  • Coordinating complex motor patterns at high speed
  • Processing massive amounts of information in real time
By understanding these systems, we can train them systematically. I use brain science to design precise mental training for rowers who want to elevate their focus, resilience, and race‑day mindset.
My mission is simple: to help you turn mental performance from your biggest unknown into your strongest asset.

Ready to Train Your Racing Brain?

Most athletes train their bodies but not their brains. When you prepare your Racing Brain, you unlock consistency under pressure.”
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