Apps as motivators for top athletic performance
Apps as a motivator for top sporting performanceI have just returned from an overwhelming sporting and, above all, emotional experience: the Paris Marathon. It is certainly THE highlight of my still young running career. As you hear from all marathon runners, in addition to building up a basic level of fitness, it is first and foremost a mental thing. It's in your head that you decide whether or not you can complete the 42 km. Motivation is the decisive factor here. 42km is long. And every runner has to contend with difficulties over this distance. The body fights back and shows signs of fatigue. The mind asks "What are you doing?" In this situation, in addition to self-motivation, motivation from the environment can move mountains. The spectators on the roadside. The many musicians and bands lining the route. The backdrop. The relatives and friends who cheer along. And for the latter, online services such as social media networks or apps that transmit live data take on a very special significance. Because they also allow friends who are not there to be very close to the action. Just knowing that they can cheer and watch you on the road from home is inspiring.This type of motivation is already effective during the build-up training. With apps like Runkeeper or Runtastic, which record every workout, share it with friends and even post it on Facebook and Twitter, you get your environment involved.And it also gives you a little commitment. You show that you are training and, above all, that you are making progress. If you also receive positive feedback, so to speak, this has an even more motivating effect and can give you the necessary incentive if your self-motivation is not quite enough.In this sense, today's online services can give an athlete wings during training, but especially during top sporting performances.
Reto Baumgartner is the owner and managing director of MySign AG and is primarily involved in digital branding.
