Mentality during exercise affects performance

As an athlete, it is not only important to train your body well, but your brain also influences your performance. The University of Kent has found that you can reduce sports performance by 4.5% if your head is not in the right sport. That's what Metronieuws.nl writes.

Experience on dark runway

In collaboration with the sports brand ASICS, the university conducted the experiment in London early June. With three top athletes, the Blackout Track has been done. During this test, a runner is followed by a projector in an almost dark environment. There is no end and no positive encouragement

In total, the subjects tested went on a course of 5 kilometers. This distance was first traveled in a normal frame then on the Blackout track. What happened? Some athletes did this work for a minute more than in the normal setting.

The spirit should not be underestimated

The scientist Samuele Marcora led the research. "The difference we found during the experiment is equal to the difference you see after a four-week high-intensity workout program," he says. "The mental aspect of the sport should not be underestimated."

With a 4.5% difference between the normal plot and the Blackout Track, the mental aspect weighs heavier than what the search teams had expected. In a good mood

"In addition to light and vision, all other distractions are lacking: no music, public or technical support such as heart rate monitors, watches and smartphones," says sports journalist Esther Vliege Explain. "Riders can focus completely on the race, with their ultimate goal in their flow: where runners feel better and at the best of their performance."

Source: Metronieuws.nl