The "Competitive Mindset" of ALEXANDER "AJ" GOLIK: DEKA & HYROX Champion, Underdog Athlete, Full time College Student, Handling Stress and Pressure, The Role of Mentors and his #1 Role Model

The Competitive Edge Podcast: Fatherhood | Fitness | Focus

Summary In this episode of the Competitive Mindset series, Daniel Jason Hickman interviews Alexander Golik (AJ), a hybrid OCR athlete. AJ shares his journey into OCR and his experiences in DEKA and HYROX events. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from team sports to individual competition and the importance of mindset in overcoming obstacles. AJ also talks about the recent events hosted by Underdog and the importance of well-organized and smoothly run races. He emphasizes the significance of family, being true to oneself, and setting high standards in all aspects of life. AJ shares his racing style as controlled chaos and discusses how he handles stress and pressure. He credits Kevin Gregory as his biggest role model and mentor in racing and highlights the importance of belief in oneself and building connections within the OCR community. Takeaways

• Transitioning from team sports to individual competition can be challenging, but developing a positive mindset and focusing on personal growth can lead to success.
• Well-organized and smoothly run races, like those hosted by Underdog, provide a positive racing experience and allow athletes to perform at their best.
• Believing in oneself and setting high standards are key to achieving success in racing and in life.
• Handling stress and pressure involves taking a step back, planning, and finding outlets that occupy the mind and promote positivity.
• Building connections within the OCR community and making friends can enhance the racing experience and create lasting bonds.

Sound Bites

• "Transitioning from being a puzzle piece to being the entire portrait or puzzle itself is a huge transition."
• "As long as I did a little bit better this race than the last time, it's really the only way to win."
• "Controlled chaos, I feel like might be the best way to describe it."

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 14:30 Transitioning to Individual Competition 19:28 Believing in Oneself and Setting High Standards 26:54 Racing Style: Controlled Chaos 32:17 Overcoming Mistakes in Races 36:05 Role Models and Mentors 41:31 Building Connections within the OCR Community