Attention: The Secret Ingredient for HRR Success

Henley is finally upon us. This time next week, we’ll be nearing finals day. You’ve done all the heavy training. Now it will be about sharpening the edges and, most importantly, your attention. 

The thing about attention is that it’s essential to be deliberate with what you place it upon. Much like a muscle, it does get conditioned over time. Many athletes assume they have rock-solid attention only to find themselves at the start line of the race, focusing on things they shouldn’t. At this stage, it’s like the horse has been let loose, and there’s nobody directing it.  

Things that do go through crews’ heads which nobody talks about:  

• What will people think of me? 
• It’s happening. We’re here; I need a bin to throw up in. 
• That crew over there looks outstanding; they’ve moved on a lot since we last raced. Are they faster than us? 
• Everyone is here watching this is stressful.  
• They have a better draw than us; why have we been drawn the short straw? 
• I’m worried about racing tomorrow. 
• Have we done enough training?
• I hope I don’t crash.
• I feel tired. Have I trained too hard?
• I feel sick.
• Why are we not moving through them?
• We deserve to win (what the heck just happened?? as the competition tears them apart).
• Why am I so stressed? 

This list could go on forever, and these are only a handful of the things that go on inside. You cannot shut these voices out. There are some simple things too – like conditions on the water. You can notice them, which is the first step. Then choose to focus on the simple things that will work well in those conditions. The most significant stimulants that can distract you from bringing your best are:

• the occasion (event)
• the competition
• yourself
• environment
• conditions (internally, externally)

A few things that will keep your feet on the ground if and when it does get noisy are thinking about…

• how you’re moving the boat 
• how did that make you feel?
• staying level, alert, ready

It doesn’t take a massive amount for our attention to be pulled in a different direction. So you have to be deliberate with where you can place your attention. The simpler and more precise you can be for yourself and your crew, the faster you go.

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Stephen Feeney

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