Voice of the Athlete: Guillaume Hermile
We had the opportunity to interview Guillaume Hermile, a triathlete and ambassador for the Brooks UK Happy Run Team. His contagious optimism for life and sport makes him an awesome role model for people who were athletes as kids and then life happened, and he came back to sports as an adult and is loving it. Let’s listen to the Voice of the Athlete: Guillaume Hermile.
Learn more about mental training: https://www.MaximumComposure.com
Learn more about the Brooks UK Happy Run Team: https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_ie/run-happy-team/
Journey as a runner
Question 1: How did you start your athletic journey?
Voice of the athlete: I’ve always been involved in sports since a young age. My uncle was an athletics international coach from the 70s to the late 90s, and he trained Olympic sprinters. My father is a retired PE teacher and was an athletics national coach, taking kids to the next level. He also ran the 100 meters in 10.4s in the early 70s.
In my early teens, I played field hockey at the national level and was a national top-3 hurdler. Then real life arrived! I’ve never stopped loving sports, especially athletics. To cut the story short, I started running properly again in my 30s and entered running events 8 years ago. Then, I competed in triathlons. Here I am in 2020, loving running. I am thankful for all the opportunities I’m involved with, thanks to social media.
Question 2: It takes so much dedication to train while being a father and having a career. What is your biggest source of motivation on days when you might not feel like training?
Voice of the athlete: While being a father and working full time, it’s all about planning. I run, cycle, swim, and go to the gym. My biggest source of motivation is to stay healthy physically and mentally. It is easier when I have a training plan set. Last year, I trained for my first Ironman. My focus and target to finish such an epic event motivated me on a daily basis.
Question 3: You have competed in many races and have met some amazing athletes. Have you been inspired by anyone along the way who changed the way you think about races?
Voice of the athlete: I have, and I continue to be inspired by many athletes of all levels. I constantly learn from others in all aspects of running.
Question 4: What is the greatest piece of advice you've ever received?
Voice of the Athlete: "Never give up," unless an injury prevails. It’s one foot in front of the other, one step closer to that medal, and post-race pizza and beer!
Question 5: What advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
Voice of the Athlete: Get out there and enjoy it, which I did back when I was a teen. This is the best advice for everyone. When people are also looking for results, they need to enjoy the journey. The rest will come naturally.
Question 6: Do you incorporate mental training into your routines? If yes, can you share what skills you use and how they help you?
Voice of the Athlete: Thinking about it, I probably do. I understand how important psychology is in sport and how it affects us. One example is finishing a long run when the weather turns for the worst. It’s so easy to give up and get home to get dry and warm. Again, I just think of the reasons why I’m out and need to finish the run. It’s also important to realize not all runs will go to perfection. A bad run or training session has many benefits.
Question 7: What advice do you give your children about building confidence?
Voice of the Athlete: Be yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others. "Go for it," but also keep your feet on the ground.
Question 8: Who are your role models both in and out of sport?
Voice of the Athlete: There are so many, but I’ll pick two. In my love for Athletics, Carl Lewis of the USA has to be one. I remember watching him when I was a kid and thinking, "WOW! He’s amazing!" I was lucky enough to watch him run at the 1987 Athletics World Championships in Rome, Italy. Being there for the infamous battle between Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson was something else.
My other role model is French Biathlete Martin Fourcade, who has recently retired from the sport. Both Carl Lewis and Martin Fourcade ruled their sport for over a decade. They have inspired me in many ways. Their determination to stay at the top was unreal.
Question 9: How did you mentally prepare before each race?
Voice of the Athlete: A lot comes into mental preparation. I believe it starts the day before. Good hydration throughout the day and a good night's sleep. On race day, I make sure I have a good, relevant breakfast and drink well. Without the above, I know it would play in my mind and would, therefore, affect me mentally coming to the start line.
Traveling to the race, my nerves start kicking in. BUT nerves are good, natural, and I believe bring excitement. This is when I start thinking about all the positives about the day, about the race. Meeting friends at Race HQ. Picking up my race number. Putting race gear on. Walking to the start line. I think about how I’m going to run and although it might hurt, how worthwhile it will be.
Question 10: What types of internal and external pressure do you face going into races, and how do you handle the pressure?
Voice of the Athlete: As an amateur athlete, I’ve learned over the years I run against myself. I race for myself and no one else. Therefore, I do not face any pressure going into races. It can take a while for someone to get rid of that negative pressure. Once it is dealt with, races can be enjoyed. And this, in turn, will bring better results. If I enjoy it, I train better, and therefore race better.
Question 11: Have you ever experienced pre-race anxiety, and how do you push past it?
Voice of the Athlete: I’m always nervous but have never experienced pre-race anxiety. As an amateur athlete, it would be really hard to keep entering races knowing I would have anxiety. I do push myself at some events and mainly race for the enjoyment. Anxiety would be tough to deal with.
Question 12: Have you ever seen someone having a paralyzing fear during a race?
Voice of the Athlete: Luckily, I haven’t.
Question 13: What advice would you give to other athletes on how not to overthink during a race?
Voice of the Athlete: "You have done the training. Be positive. Stay focused. And the body will do the rest naturally."
Question 14: I discovered that you are the first decathlon ambassador for Southampton 2016. Do you have a new ambassador role?
Voice of the Athlete: I am now part of the Brooks UK Run Happy Team. I feel very lucky and grateful to be a part of such a great brand. Out of thousands of applicants, 50 of us were chosen to represent Brooks at various events and on social media. As a team, we come together to discuss all things running. In exchange for promoting the brand, we receive free regular kit drops. Being a part of this team brings me pride, commitment, and passion, and I have also made new friends with amazing runners and triathletes.
Question 15: How has Covid-19 affected you and your Brooks UK Run Happy teammates?
Voice of the Athlete: Due to Covid-19, all races have been canceled for the foreseeable future. I currently have no racing targets, but I have set myself a personal challenge. One of my friends raises money for charities and has set up a virtual event, which includes medals. The challenge is to run any distance at any time. I am going to run 100 miles in a week while still working my 9 to 5 job! I hardly run that distance in a month, so it will be tough, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
Takeaway #1: I race for myself and no one else.
Takeaway #2: Don't overthink it. If you have done the training, be positive, stay focused, and the body will do the rest naturally.
Takeaway #3: Being part of this team brings me pride, commitment, and passion.
Voice of the Athlete: Guillaume Hermile.
Thank you, Guillaume Hermile, for sharing your insights into the mindset of a triathlete.
Follow Guillaume @ironmantobe74.
Listen to the voices of other athletes: https://mentalaccelerator.com/resource/voice-of-the-athlete
Question for you: Were you a youth athlete who took a break but came back to sport with renewed passion? What brought you back? Leave your comments below.