Intensity, Part Two

So if the strong and genetically gifted athletes aren't necessarily the ones capable of the intensity required to excel, then where does this intensity come from? Is anybody capable of it, or is there some ingrained switch that is only present in certain people?

I have seen, time and time again, that anyone is capable of intensity under the right circumstances and with the right motivation. The difficulty is in consistently producing that motivation to give a consistently exceptional athletic performance. For some, this intensity can only result from imminent danger, a situation that cannot be safely reproduced for the sake of athletic performance. For others, the intensity comes from a more manageable external stimulus that makes them feel angry, competitive, inferior, or excited. This is easier to work with, as a good coach can provoke this reaction with the right verbal cue, whether it is "C'mon you worthless meatsack, those are the slowest push-ups I've ever seen," or, "Keep it up, you're doing amazing!"

Those athletes who will excel the most, however, are those who are internally motivated to high levels of intensity. A prime example of this sort of athlete is Breanne Feudale, who fought her way to first place in the final event of the Northern California Crossfit Qualifiers, an impressive feat made amazing after taking into consideration the fact that Breanne fell twice during this event: once off of the rain-soaked pull-up bar onto her neck, and once on the final leg of the steep downhill run to the finish line. Both times, Breanne leaped back up to her feet and immediately continued a workout that I can personally say was one of the most gruelling ever devised by the powers that be. It was a source of inspiration to compete against athletes like Breanne at the NorCal Qualifiers, so much so that I found it slightly depressing to leave the competition and return to the "real world," where intensity, motivation, and inspiration are considered extraordinary charicteristics.