The Trails Might Not Solve All Problems

Hillary Allen writes in the light of the recent doping controversy:

When athletes feel so much pressure that cheating feels like the only option, the problem isn’t just rules, it’s motivation.
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Instead of focusing only on external outcomes, sports psychology helps athletes tune into their intrinsic motivation — the internal drivers that make sport meaningful: joy, curiosity, challenge, growth, community.
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What we really need is a culture shift — one where athletes aren’t just trained to win, but supported to thrive. That’s where sport psychology comes in.

Our sport is growing up, it’s becoming more professional and more competitive, and the air is getting thin for the elites at the top. We wanted this, wanted the sport to get bigger and more exciting. But we can’t forget the core of what makes trail running special, and at the highest level more professional help is needed to keep the heads of the athletes straight. Hillary’s call here is the right call, but also a call for even more professionalism and more money for the athletes – and yet another call for organizations to step up to provide this infrastructure for athletes to feel safe and supported.