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CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

1IT ALL BEGINS WITH AN UNUSUAL RUNNING STORY

1.1The Atacama experiment: Performance that defies the imagination

1.2The book’s character and structure: How it works

2HOW MUCH OF YOUR HEAD IS IN YOUR FEET?

2.1Antiquated everyday training: Is the earth still flat?

2.2Power of the mind

2.3The mind’s astounding effects on the body: Learning to control the uncontrollable?!

2.4Mental training as the magic bullet? Possibilities and limits

3POSITION FIXING: STARTING MY PERSONAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM

3.1“I’m going to rate myself”: Important topics in a nutshell

3.2Where am I right now?

3.3Personal performance profile

3.4Diagnosing my mental strengths

3.5Why do I run? What drives me?

4MOTIVATION AND GOALS: FUELING AND GUIDING PRODUCTIVE ENERGY

4.1Everyday self-sabotage, or: Fuck you, problem!

4.2Never again, motivational problems! A beautiful new world of athletics or something from the psychological bag of tricks?

4.3Brain-appropriate goal management: The basis of success

57-D HEAD CINEMA: LET THE MAGIC HAPPEN

5.1Visualization with virtuosity = 7-D experience patterns

5.2Visualization guide

5.3Remembering a successful future: Irresistible wish goals, performances, and results

5.4Magic moments: Perfect movements, processes, and sequences

5.5The big picture: Visualizing competitions

6USING RESOURCES

6.1Resource reload: The Swiss army knife of mental training

6.2Focusing attention: Learning from the grand masters

6.3Self-talk: How we can constructively guide the voices in our head

6.4You’re allowed to copy: Learning from more or less glam models

6.5Act as if: Fake it till you make it

6.6Testing and creating self-confidence

6.7Relaxed effectiveness and effective relaxation

7THE DARK SIDE OF RUNNING AND HOW TO TURN IT INTO OPPORTUNITIES

7.1A threat to body and soul: The negative effects of positive thinking

7.2Shit happens: How to handle failure

7.3Crises, opportunities, twists, and turns: How does a world champion think?

7.4From research & practice: Mental resilience as means for success

7.5Sports injuries: The role our mind plays in the occurrence and healing of injuries

7.6Exercise addiction: What exactly is it and am I affected?

7.7What happens when success makes you unhappy?

OUTLOOK

INTERVIEW WITH MICHELE UFER: WHEN MANAGERS LEARN TO RUN

REFERENCES

Readers’ opinions on the book

Success Stories

Photo credits