If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to compete at the Division 1 level in track and field — and how those lessons translate into business and leadership — this one is for you.
On The Gametime Guru Podcast, I sat down with former Division 1 athlete Brayden Durfee, owner of 1ONEATHLETICS, to talk about speed development, visualization, failure, and what separates good athletes from elite ones.
👉 Watch the full interview here:
From Small-Town Athlete to Division 1 Competitor
Brayden grew up in Bend, Oregon — not exactly known as a national powerhouse pipeline.
He entered high school at 5 feet tall and 98 pounds.
By the time he graduated, he was a 4-time state champion.
What changed?
Not talent.
Consistency.
He was waking up at 5 AM. Eating between every passing period.
Skipping social outings. Making sacrifices that most high school athletes simply aren’t willing to make.
Hard work sounds cliché.
But it’s undefeated.
What Does Division 1 Sprint Training Actually Look Like?
One of the biggest misconceptions in track and field is that sprinters just “run fast.”
That’s not training. That’s testing.
Brayden breaks training into specific components:
1. Speed Days
Focused purely on max velocity and mechanics.
2. Acceleration Days
Working on drive phase, explosiveness, and early race positioning.
3. Aerobic Power / Conditioning Days
Supporting the central nervous system and lung capacity without overtraining.
He’s also a major believer in micro-peaking — helping athletes feel fresh more often rather than burning them out all season and hoping they peak once.
That approach now fuels his programming at 1ONEATHLETICS.
How Visualization Improves Athletic Performance
If you want to improve performance under pressure, this is the part you need to pay attention to.
Brayden earned his bachelor’s in sports psychology, and visualization is a cornerstone of his philosophy.
Before a race:
- Visualize acceleration phase
- Visualize transition into max velocity
- Visualize execution
- Then let it go
About an hour before competition, the focus shifts.
No overthinking.
Just flow state.
In sports like track — where you get one opportunity once the gun fires — mental preparation is everything.
The Failure That Changed His Career
At the Mountain West Conference Championships, Brayden got dead last in the 200m.
He ran slower than he had in high school.
For many athletes, that moment becomes identity.
For Brayden, it became fuel.
He sat alone in the stands after the meet and made a decision:
“Remember this feeling.”
The following year, he attacked training differently. Harder. Smarter. More intentional.
One brutal workout stands out: six 500-meter repeats at elite times. He collapsed after the last rep — but hit every mark.
Failure didn’t define him.
It sharpened him.
How Athletes Should Handle Failure
Here’s the framework Brayden teaches:
- Accept the emotion.
It’s okay to be upset. Angry. Frustrated. - Reframe the narrative.
Failure is not the end. It’s the start of the next breakthrough.
Most athletes try to skip step one.
That’s a mistake.
You have to sit with it before you grow from it.
From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Building 1ONEATHLETICS
After Boise State, Brayden initially planned to work behind the scenes in college athletics.
Instead, he started training athletes in his garage.
Today, 1ONEATHLETICS operates out of its own facility.
Their philosophy is simple:
Everyone who walks through the door is “One of One.”
No cookie-cutter programming.
No overcrowded sessions.
Small groups (max five athletes), individualized plans, video breakdowns, and intentional development.
They train:
- Track & field athletes
- Volleyball players
- Football athletes
- Basketball players
- Youth to professional level
Their mission?
Develop speed. Build confidence. Raise leaders.
Leadership Lessons from Athletics
The biggest takeaway from our conversation?
Show up.
In sports.
In business.
In leadership.
You can’t ask athletes to push through discomfort if you’ve never done it yourself.
Brayden calls this being “Undeniable by Design.”
Doubt has no place when the work is structured and consistent.
That mindset doesn’t just win races.
It builds businesses.
Watch the Full Conversation
If you’re serious about:
- Improving speed
- Understanding sprint training
- Developing mental toughness
- Learning how elite athletes handle failure
- Or building leadership through sports
You need to watch this full episode.
👉 Watch the full interview with Brayden Durfee here:
If you enjoy conversations that give you a panoramic view on sports — from mindset to performance to leadership — make sure to subscribe to The Gametime Guru Podcast on YouTube.
What time is it?
Game Time.
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