Triathlon Psychology

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Session Notes The Record-Breaker
Addressing:

Mental Weakness on the Run

The specific phenomenon athletes openly discuss in forums: the ability to bury yourself on the bike but completely falling apart mentally when running, unable to push through discomfort that would be manageable in other disciplines

How The Record-Breaker Can Overcome Mental Weakness on the Run in Triathlon

Posted on January 6, 2026 ~ min read
📋
For: The Record-Breaker athletes in Triathlon
Focus: Session Notes - Mental Weakness on the Run
Read Time: ~10 min
Session Notes January 6, 2026
Profile: The Record-Breaker
Sport: Triathlon
Challenge: Mental Weakness on the Run

In triathlon, mental weakness on the run is the psychological collapse that occurs when an athlete who performed brilliantly through swim and bike suddenly cannot push through manageable discomfort during the final leg. The Record-Breaker athletes are particularly vulnerable because their tactical, analytical minds become liabilities when the body demands raw persistence over strategic calculation.

The run exposes something uncomfortable. You buried yourself on the bike, held perfect power numbers, executed your nutrition plan flawlessly. Then you step off and your legs feel like concrete. Your brain starts negotiating. Walk this aid station. Slow down for one mile. Just finish.

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Vladimir Novkov

M.A. Social Psychology | ISSA Elite Trainer | Expert in Sport Psychology for Athlete Development

My mission is to bridge the gap between mind and body, helping athletes and performers achieve a state of synergy where peak performance becomes a natural outcome of who they are.

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