When Athlete Brain Takes Over: Why Pushing Through May Not Always Be Best.

The mental conditioning an athlete possesses is often advantageous and has positive effects not only in their chosen sport but also which benefits everyday life. 

For example, an elite athlete’s brain usually has excellent cognitive skills, a high number of neurons, and a pattern-based memory system. They also have excellent decision making & perception skills. Athletes are also very disciplined, determined and focused, even when under intense pressure. 

The flip side to having an athlete’s brain is that the pursuit of perfect performance, progression, goal focused thinking, and regimented self discipline can take a toll on well-being. Female athletes in particular, often face unrealistic expectations from coaches, fans, teammates, and themselves. Female athletes are often judged on how their bodies should (or do) look, and this adds to the pressure they already face. The top issues reported by athletes include feelings of burnout, depression, anxiety and frustration, as well as physical problems like recurrent injuries. 

In extreme cases, the bar is raised so high that it leads to self-destruction. 

The term “athlete brain” (coined by Brianna Battles) refers to the mental conditioning that anyone can display when they feel like they NEED to keep going even if it may not be in their overall best interest to do so.  For example: Having a mindset of “winning at all costs”, relentless goal oriented thinking and a “no excuses” mindset. This applies not just to professional athletes, but can be seen in amateur athletes, weekend warriors, gym junkies and everyday individuals. 

The athlete brain mindset can be caused by childhood competing and playing sports, family dynamics, societal culture, trauma, personality traits, low self -esteem, fear of failure, or a competitive environment such as in the workplace or other situations in life. It’s important to know however, that ‘Athlete Brain’ can sometimes be a good thing. 

Motherhood and Athlete Brain. 

The dominant topic within society on athlete mums is the ‘come back,’ where female athletes’ bodies and achievements are at the heart of what it means to be an athlete mother. 

Terms like “super mum” are applied to mothers who smash themselves in the gym, transform their bodies into ones that look like they never had a baby, or publicly raise the bar in what society expects of postpartum mothers. (this could be winning a race, hitting a PB, nailing a gnarly trail feature or entering a gruelling endurance race… like an ultra marathon or 24hr race) 

This leads to many new mother’s feeling negatively towards their postpartum bodies, abilities and achievements, and can even be directed towards their baby. (hello? You just grew a new human being inside you, depleting your brain and body’s resources and then pushed it out, one of the most physically grueling undertakings known to mankind). 

Frustration and negativity towards an athlete’s own body can have a profound impact. It influences how an athlete perceives themselves in relation to performance, control, and body ideals, which subsequently affects an athlete’s emotions, feelings, and overall identity. (Martinez-Pascual et al., 2016)

This pressure from society and from one’s self, as well as the mental conditioning she may have developed over the course of her active life such as competitiveness or ego –  is what may drive a pregnant or postpartum mama (or any female athlete) to exhibit traits that fit under the banner of “athlete brain” mindset. 

This “athlete brain” behaviour is what puts women more at risk of certain health concerns, conditions and injuries (and even more so when in the pregnant/postpartum chapter or if unwell). It is important to note that a woman doesn’t have to display all these behaviours to have “athlete brain”. Athlete brain can be a good thing, in fact, it is necessary for progression in sports – but in certain situations or life chapters it may not be.  

For example, A female mountain biker could display the Athlete Brain attitude (regardless of athlete/skill status) in ways such as: 

• Being completely exhausted or unwell yet dragging self to gym or trails AKA not listening to your body,
• Anyone not taking rest days, not recovering properly, not eating well
• A pregnant mama who doesn’t adjust her training or riding, and keeps doing what she’s always done, despite her changing body
• The postpartum mama smashing her body in the gym to “bounce back” without considering her pelvic floor or abdominals (its her brain that feels ready, not usually her body)
• A sleep deprived or pregnant/postpartum mama smashing herself in the gym or on the bike for “mental health” (it’s ok to return to the gym and bike but at a lower intensity)
• A pregnant/postpartum mama competing in gruelling events or training regimes while still recovering from birth or in the any stage of pregnancy
• Anyone ignoring symptoms for fear it preventing them from participating in their sport or exercise regimen
• Anyone (at any stage of life) experiencing little bouts of urine leakage or pelvic heaviness and ignoring it
• Anyone attempting features and trails outside of her skill level to “keep up”, impress or to “tick it off” and injuring herself often (e.g Can I vs Should I?)
• A pregnant/breastfeeding woman trying to lose weight (** RED flag!**)
• Riding or exercising while injured or unwell (not fully recovered, risking more injury) … I am very guilty of this one!
• A postpartum mama hitting the trails or gym before the 6 or 12 week checkup 
• A pregnant mama continuing to ride even when contraindicated by pregnancy conditions (putting baby at risk) This is rare but has been known to happen. 

There are plenty of other situations where Athlete brain might take over. These are just a few! Can you think of any where you might have known what you’re doing isn’t the best thing for you but something drives you to do it anyway? (I’m not referring to attempting trail features that scare you but are within your skill level – this is necessary for progression on the bike).

Athlete Brain Can Be a Good Thing. 

A clear, focused mind allows athletes (and weekend warriors) to stay centered on their goals and not be distracted by setbacks.  For example, when becoming a mother, it can mean riding doesn’t end there. An athlete understands that motherhood is a season and may adapt her training to preserve her athletic longevity for a time, but she is still an athlete (or mountain biker or weekend warrior etc)! 

Continuing to participate in her sport also reaffirms her athlete identity but can also support motherhood identity by offering a space for escapism. (We’ve all been there!).

So don’t get me wrong. Biking and training regimes can certainly fit into the pregnancy and postpartum chapter, but sometimes the athlete’s brain takes over. 

So why do we let Athlete Brain take over? We attempt to push to the limits when it may not be in our best interest to do so because:

• We think we have something to prove to others, or ourselves
• Something stirs the competitive streak in us
• We feel pressured to bounce back
• We may feel pressured by well meaning but uneducated coaches and/or friends
• We compare ourselves to others
• We think we are inspiring others, but actually we may be contributing to a dangerous culture (“supermum”, “bouncing back” “no excuses” etc).
• Social media celebrates “bouncing back” -racing, sending it, running marathons in the weeks or months post birth or during pregnancy. It can stroke the ego for sure when we get likes and @ mentions!
• We are motivated by ego.  We all have an ego. Some are just bigger than others. Is it worth it? Bragging about our own achievements can also make other women feel bad if they aren’t doing the same.
• It’s Your brain that feels ready, not your body.
• You think you need to smash yourself for “mental health”.  But actually low intensity exercise and simply being in nature is better for your mental and physical health, and there are many other ways to improve mental health. Why not explore some other healthful ways?

Keeping your Athlete Brain in Check. 

The Key to supporting ourselves and our fellow females in this chapter is learning what symptoms to “ listen out” for when “listening to your body”. 

• Leverage ‘Athlete Brain” and put those traits of focus, ambition and commitment to better use –  by seeing the big picture. This is what we call athletic maturity. We do this by delaying the gratification and the “need” to smash ourselves in the gym or on the bike. This takes humility, focus, courage and commitment! 
• Remember it’s your brain not your body that is driving these desires. We are usually ready mentally before we are physically. 
• Remember: An easy birth doesn’t mean your body is unaffected by pregnancy and birth. 
• Rest when you are sick. Heal your relationship with food. Get good sleep! Take rest days. Calm your nervous system with specific regulation techniques.
• Find other ways to revitalize your physical and mental well-being. (I love a hot sauna!)
• Set Realistic Goals. Goal-setting is an integral part of an athlete’s journey. While ambition is commendable, setting realistic, achievable goals is vital. Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and negatively impact mental health.
• Establish long term goals  – and focus on the long term, not the now. Aim for longevity in your sport. I know I want to preserve my athleticism to be able to ride when I am in my 70’s (check out North shore Betty for inspiration!). 
• View the season/chapter illness/injury you’re in as opportunities for growth rather than as setbacks.
• Ask yourself: Can I vs should I? 
• Ask yourself: What is the Risk vs Reward for you at that moment? Is it worth it?
• Remember – if you are injured, unwell  – It’s not forever, it’s just for now. Get well first.
• Change your Pregnancy/postpartum Mindset – preserve your athleticism – don’t wreck it. It’s a season you are in, it’s not forever. 
• Focus on YOU!  – not what others are achieving.
• Do what’s right for you – and be aware of that athlete in your brain telling you to push harder, eat less, train more, do what she’s doing, ride what she’s riding, blah blah blah. It’s not always in your best interest to listen to your brain even if you want to! 
• You don’t always have to ride in “full- send “ mode. We get stuck on progression. Are we progressing? Or have you forgotten how to simply have fun on your bike?
• Finally, could it be your EGO driving the Athlete Brain mentality? 

Just like it takes years of training and effort to achieve *athlete status* it can take time to adapt and change your thinking. But it is worth it and it will pay off. Remember, being able to adapt to the season/chapter you’re in is a sign of maturity, not a lack of. 

What else can you do? 

Surround yourself with family, friends, coaches, and sports psychologists who understand the unique challenges of your sport and provide emotional support.

Practice Self-Compassion. Athletes can be their harshest critics. Cultivate self-compassion by treating yourself with kindness and understanding, especially when facing setbacks or challenges.

And embrace failure. It is a part of everyone’s journey. 

Spread the word and post about via your social media. Post about the realities of postpartum, motherhood and menopause! Post your successes but also your fails!. Don’t succumb to “bouncing back” mentality or being a “super mum” (all mums are super mums!!). 

For an intentional, progressive, and thorough pregnancy or postpartum guide to exercise see here 

For more ideas on how to improve your mental well being in motherhood, see this post.

Resources 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029222000073

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9456821