New Service for SunTrust Richmond Marathon Participants: Mental Toughness Training

RICHMOND, Va., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- With the SunTrust Richmond Marathon on the horizon, area athletes are ramping up their training.  But while they focus on their physical abilities, their mental toughness may be lacking.  Enter sport psychologist Dana Blackmer, owner of The Extra Gear and one of the Commonwealth's only certified consultants by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Blackmer, who earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Catholic University in 1987, uses scientifically tested training procedures such as imagery, intensity regulation and thought control strategies to help elite athletes and weekend warriors alike stay positive, motivated, confident, energized and focused.  These skills, he says, help athletes condition for a competition or recover from an injury, but they can also be applied throughout one's life.

"For instance, young athletes who learn to cope with their anxiety before a competition can use these same techniques to decrease their nervousness before a math test," Blackmer says.  "The weekend warrior who learns to use imagery to prepare for a race can use these same techniques to prepare for their next presentation at work."

With over twenty years experience in clinical psychology, Blackmer developed his practice in response to a growing need for sports psychology in Greater Richmond for athletes at all stages of the game.  "There are often two general misunderstandings about sports psychology," explains Blackmer.  "First, this is not about working with crazy athletes.  And second, there's a myth that sports psychology is only for elite or pro athletes."

Blackmer, who is also an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University's Sport Leadership Center, has stayed at the forefront of sports psychology in our area by teaching courses on the topic, serving as a certified USA Cycling coach, and assisting clients who range from teens preparing for college sports to Master-level athletes recovering from injury.

The Extra Gear clients benefit from custom-designed training plans that help sharpen their mental game, using everything from in-person sessions and e-mail consultations to video conferences and proprietary mental training software.  The Extra Gear assists all types of athletes, no matter their sport or skill level.  Athletes can find free advice via social platforms, such as The Extra Gear on Facebook, @TheExtraGear on Twitter, and "Train Your Brain" videos on YouTube.  Blackmer also offers 4-Week Training Plans at www.TheExtraGear.com.

SOURCE The Extra Gear