"Any runner who denies having fears, nerves, or some other kind of disposition is a bad athlete, or a liar." 1950s British Olympian Gordon Pirie
The bad news? Pre-race anxiety is inevitable. The good news? Its a normal part of the process. Whether youre a seasoned veteran aiming for a new PR, or a rookie concerned about simply getting to the finish line, nerves are natural and can add an element of excitement to your race.
But when pre-race fears become more than just nervous energy, its important to nip it in the bud before your performance is affected and it starts to take all the fun out of racing. Regardless of whether its a string of bad races, a layoff due to injury, or merely a lack of confidence in your level of fitness, here are a few tips to help keep you on track come race day.
Prepare properly. You may not appreciate the importance of setting out your race-day gear the night before the event until you make a critical mistake...and then you never forget. A few years back, the gun went off at the Nike Womens Half Marathon in San Francisco when I realized that I had, in a cloud of nervous forgetfulness, left my timing chip back in the hotel room a mile or so away. Without any time to go back, I ended up running the race chip-less, finishing sans official time or record of my participation. Lesson learned; now I lay out everything the night before and do a double-check before bedtime.
Practice visualization. Walk through every aspect of the race in your minds eye, from warming up at the starting line to navigating the course and crossing the finish line triumphantly. Expect a certain amount of discomfort or pain if youre pushing your limits, but know that youve mentally rehearsed it and can handle anything that comes your way. When all else fails, imagine your worst-case scenario, and how youd cope with it. Chances are the reality wont be half as bad as what you can dream up.
Eat carefully. Race-day nerves can wreak havoc on your digestive system, so tread carefully when it comes to what you ingest in the hours before your event. Skipping a meal is not an option (especially for longer endurance events), so look for foods that are easy to digest and have a mix of nutrients, such as bananas, sports bars, oatmeal or even bagels and toast with peanut butter. If youre wary of how something will set, do a trial run during training to work out the kinks in a more controlled environment.
Line up correctly. Theres nothing more unnerving than realizing that youre in the wrong place at the wrong time on race morning. Avoid angering the elites or getting stuck behind slower runners by lining up according to your closest predicted finishing time. This way you can start with people who are at a similar pace, which will help you relax and focus on your own performance.
Start. A fat reducing review can help you establish a clear describe of what you need to focus on to achieve your fat loss objective if you're a starter; or serve as a reminder for the ones who are at an intermediate or more improve phase of their weight loss strategy. Following are seven steps that can serve as guidelines for your special weight loss system. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not exactly the same thing. Many weight loss applications have misled people into thinking that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss applications only work by producing a person's body to lose more muscle cells and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. Out. Slowly. Ive witnessed all too many nervous runners who shoot across the starting line like jackrabbits when the gun goes off, only to slow to a shuffle 200 yards later when their adrenaline wears off and oxygen debt sets in. Regardless of how good you feel, resist that temptation. Hold back a bit in the early stages to find your pace, and once youve relaxed into a rhythm, start pushing.
Run your own race. Id argue that only a small part of the race is physical; the rest is mental. Fight the urge to compare yourself to those around you. Unless youre a top-ranked elite athlete, there will always be someone faster than you. And on the flip side, there will always be someone slower that you. So pick your route, stick to your plan and race against the most daunting competitor: Yourself.
Think positive thoughts. Above all, its important to focus on what you already have achieved, rather than what you might not. Whether its attempting a new distance, making it through a grueling training schedule or just having the guts to step up to the starting line, youve got something to celebrate.
Topic Galleries -- chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com/topicTopic galleries provide easy access to stories and photos about people, places, organizations, events and subjects of interest to you. They bring together rich ...
Half Marathon Race Day Tips I Will Get There..1 Mile at a Time
1mileatatime.com/?p=2835In this post I had told you about how I had a friend run her first half marathon. During the beginning of her training she had emailed me to sort of guide her on her ...
I Kissed My Date Goodnight Just a single girl trying to navigate ...
ruthrutherford.wordpress.comJust a single girl trying to navigate life, faith, and the thirty-something dating scene. (by Ruth Rutherford)
Wedding Toasts & Wedding Speeches Make Your Wedding
weddingtoasts.comThe critically acclaimed web site offering great resources for anyone asked to make a wedding speech or wedding toast. As seen on Regis Philbin, ABC, NBC, Fox, Men's ...
Gentle Living - Living a gentle but powerful life.
gentlelivingonline.comIn writing this blog I often try to find the perfect picture, which Ill then edit just right. I look for a beautiful font, with the right colors.
Golf Mental Game Coaching
www.golf-mental-game-coach.com/mental-game-ebook.htmlDo any of these issues sound familiar? Frustration - the game is NOT that hard in spite of how it's being taught! Uncontraollable Emotions - have difficulty ...
Wedding Photography 21 Tips for Amateur Wedding
digital-photography-school.com/wedding-photography-21-tips-fHelp me Im photographing my first Wedding! Help me with some Wedding Photography Tips Please! Its a question thats been asked a few times in our ...
Relationships: Post Divorce Article Category
ezinearticles.com/?cat=Relationships:Post-DivorceEzineArticles.com allows expert authors in hundreds of niche fields to get massive levels of exposure in exchange for the submission of their quality original articles.
Life in the Fastpitch Lane
fastpitchlane.softballsuccess.comfastpitch, softball, fastpitch softball ... Ken Krause has been coaching girls fastpitch softball for nearly 20 years.
Mizuno Running Australia Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MizunoRunningAustraliaMizuno Running Australia. 2,570 likes 21 talking about this.
Get the Latest Phenphedrine Reviews - PhenphedrineReviews.com
www.phenphedrinereviews.comPhenphedrine should help you lose weight for good. But does it work? Read Phenphedrine reviews to find the truth.
University of Phoenix Chattanooga Campus - Chattanooga, TN ...
https://www.facebook.com/uopxchattanoogaUniversity of Phoenix Chattanooga Campus, Chattanooga, TN. 528 likes 7 talking about this 867 were here.
5 Body Language Errors that Will Sink Your Presentation
www.publicspeakinginternational.com/blog/bid/140221/5-Body...Want to be a dynamic speaker? You'd better understand body language! Here are 5 classic errors to avoid.
Head vibrations/electrical sensations through brain and body (esp ...
www.medhelp.org/posts/Undiagnosed-Symptoms/Head-vibrations...Hey all. Perhaps I should introduce myself. My name is Crystal, and since October 31st around 3 am, I have been in a constant struggle with problems ranging from ...
How to Get Ready for Spring Craft Shows The Etsy Blog
www.etsy.com/blog/en/2013/get-ready-for-spring-craft-shows17 tips for preparing for successful sales before, during, and after the big day.
my-ielts.com ielts prep
my-ielts.comLearn about my IELTS prep strategy that got me (a non-native speaker!) a perfect 9 score, and how it can benefit YOU. What does it take to be an IELTS winner?
Culture, Entertainment and Art - Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk/cultureThe latest arts, culture and entertainment news from the Telegraph. Your source for arts, movies, music, theatre, books and TV reviews and previews.
BeYoutiful - Wahanda
www.wahanda.com/blog/beyoutifulBeYoutiful, a blog by AngharadM. Keep up-to-date with AngharadMs professional advice and top tips
Grab Your Audience! 12 Foolproof Ways to Open a Speech
www.publicspeakinginternational.com/blog/bid/142073/Grab-Your...You'll finally be pitching before that audience of decision-makers. But how to open your speech? Here are 12 foolproof "speech grabbers!"
Top Five Questions and On-Stage Questions
pageantcenter.com/pageants1/pageant-tips/top-five-questions-and-on...The crucial top five questions and on-stage interviews are some of the most important aspects of pageant competition, where you must know how to succeed.
Careers & Work - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/careersTake your career to new heights. Our expert advice will help you land a job, navigate complicated work situations, get a raise or promotion or jumpstart a new career.
I Kissed My Date Goodnight Just a single girl trying to navigate ...
ruthrutherford.wordpress.comJust a single girl trying to navigate life, faith, and the thirty-something dating scene. (by Ruth Rutherford)
Racing Job - Nascar Motorsports Racing Jobs
blog.racingjob.comPhoto By: napalm nikki Action! By Jessica Watts Around the holidays, especially Christmas, people always say, "Its not the gift, but the thought that counts."
Fenphedra - Is Fenphedra a Safe Ephedra Alternative?
www.sybervision.com/reviews/Review-Fenphedra.phpFenphedra is one of the most popular selling fat burners on the market. Fenphedra is an 'everday' fat burner that contains ingredients that do one thing and one thing ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment