HILEVEL PROFILE
“What’s required of me right now?” states the inner-voice of Katherine Nichols as she makes the transition from work to family to training and competition and back to family. Katherine is a full time writer, a wife, a mother of two children and an elite athlete. Katherine has learned how to ask the questions needed to accept her situation, be present, and attack her performance goals.
Katherine has been training and competing since she was seven. She entered her first triathlon at nine. She competed in swimming, track and triathlons through high school and ran cross country and track at UCLA. For the past eight years in Hawaii, she has placed at the top of the Open Division in a variety of fun runs, swims and triathlons. This lady can compete.
Sitting across from her at a table in the park at Diamond Head, I can feel her intensity and strength of character. At 37, she has the presence of an athlete; she is self-confident, independent, and focused. The fire burns deep. She has broken down the mechanics of her performance. She knows what she needs to do to excel in all areas of her life. When challenged, she can compartmentalize: she can get up emotionally; get down, be reflective and calm; and she can get it done, and execute her plan.
Get Up: Prior to the start of the Tinman Triathlon, she taps into her mental toughness and ratchets up the intensity. “I’m grateful to be here, what a privilege it is to compete! I know I’m about to compete against athletes that are younger, better trained and more prepared. I feel strong and ready.”
Get Down: During the race, she reflects on her strategies and manages her emotions. “For each component of the race, I remain calm and focused on what is required to do a little better. I feed off of the enthusiasm of my family, my friends and the other competitors.”
Get it Done: She executes her plan to give her best effort, feel good about the results and have fun. “Before I know it, I’m totally focused, embracing the pain and fully engaged in the race. When I was biking in 3rd place, it was pouring rain and the road was really slippery, but I held my position and didn’t fall. When I was running in second place, I resisted the temptation to go after the leader as she was too far ahead.” Katherine understands her definition of success and what her best effort can achieve.
Debrief: Katherine captures positive feelings, releases any negative feelings, and she records the decisions for improving her performance. “At the finish, I felt strong and content with my effort even through my time was well over six minutes slower than my best time. There is no negative. I felt good for the winner, it's her time and I had mine. The biggest joy for me is to be my best in the moment. Competition trains me to be present, express the passion for my sport and feel good about the results. My real goal is to have these skills carry over and increase my ability to capture my voice as a writer and be a more loving and supportive wife and mother." Katherine knows that running above the line includes more than giving her best effort in an athletic event and he understands how to translate this experience into her life.
