The Evidence Based Triathlete

The Philosophy of Competitiveness and Mental Toughness with Dr. Todd Jones

Tedd Girouard & John Mercer Season 5 Episode 5

What does it really mean to be competitive? How can athletes develop true mental toughness?

On this episode of the Evidence-Based Triathlete podcast, we sit down with Dr. Todd Jones from UNLV to dive deep into the philosophy of competitiveness and mental resilience in endurance sports.

Dr. Jones introduces his DC-COP framework for mental toughness: 
Desire – Finding what truly drives you
Confidence – Believing in your ability to succeed
Circumvention – Avoiding mental & physical obstacles
Overcoming – Strategies to push through discomfort
Perseverance – Developing the ability to endure

From handling race-day pain to redefining competition and motivation, this episode is packed with insights every athlete and coach needs!