It sounds like some sort of mythbuilidng bullshit. A self serving proclamation to battle the constant negative thoughts all athletes (and people) have. It’s a denial of superstition and mojo, but I’m almost 99% sure of it.  Luck is for the unprepared. 

Now before you get all defensive and start with your “What’s so bad about wishing the best to people before any activity?” Give me a moment. You’ll get your chance to be a well wisher. 

Luck is is defined as “success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. a force that brings good fortune or adversity”. Chance, as in you control nothing.  Doesn’t seem like the best thing to attach my success or failures. 

We are conditioned to say “good luck” but shouldn’t we say things like “go execute,” or “believe that you can,” and “race like you’ve practiced.” Good luck exists, but not as some unforeseen coin flipping  decider. “Heads you win. Tails you trip in the first 100 yards and break a femur.” Of course seemingly bad things happen but that’s just the universe. 

Good luck, to me is about preparation, practice and making sure you look down and don’t step in a pothole. Not as cute as a leprechaun, but a hell of lot more reliable. You create your own luck by what you put in every day which, last I checked, wasn’t controlled by make believe cereal characters. 

Bad luck can be traced to not paying attention, poor training and execution, and self spiraling negative thoughts.  Tell yourself you aren’t lucky and guess what?  Self fulfilling prophecy.

I say luck is for the unprepared to help battle what’s essentially a turning over of performance to chance. Positive mental preparation and last minute attaboys to focus, or reminders to do what we’ve done over and over in practice yield a building of confidence in ourselves, our abilities and out training.  It reinforces daily dedication and it removes as much chance from the equation as possible. 

Maybe it also makes you sound like a ass kicker. 

Win. Win. 

#hugsandhi5s