Many triathletes spend weeks, usually months, physically preparing for a triathlon, but give little or no thought about the focus needed for the actual triathlon itself. In order to get yourself geared up to do that you have to be mentally prepared and set yourself up for success. Your mind can be your strongest asset or your biggest weakness – which would you rather it be?
Here are the top ten tips to stay positive during a triathlon:
- Self-Belief
Self-belief is the energy you were born with that’s only found deep on the inside. It’s the secret ingredient that all great triathletes seem to have, and it can motivate you to attempt and accomplish the impossible of finishing a triathlon. - Laugh a Lot and Enjoy the Experience.
It will be tough at times but if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. Remember – you are not alone. There are hundreds of others going through it right alongside of you. Joke through any nerves and enjoy the moment. Be proud of what you are accomplishing! - Positive Mental Energy
Stay strong and push through every ounce of your strength and ability to become better. You’ll be relaxed at times, but something may go wrong. It is important to focus on what you can control. How you handle the minor setbacks will be the determining factor of your event. Stay positive and confident and know that you can handle it. - Stay Focused
Triathletes need to only focus on what helps them perform their best. Having the right performance-relevant cues to focus on (technique, heart rate, breathing, splits) is one of the secrets to a successful triathlon. Staying focused gives the triathlete the ability to adjust their focus as needed during the course of a race. - Motivation
Once you are motivated about something, you become more passionate and success is probable. This is one reason why triathletes are so well respected – it’s hard enough for athletes to master one sport, let alone three. In order for triathletes to become successful in their sport, they must spend a lot of time preparing and training in all three sports. However, because they have three sports to train in, that does help keep them motivated. They don’t get bored quite as easy, but staying motivated month after month may be hard. During a race try focusing on the positive or counting people you pass to keep you motivated. - Envision Finishing the Race
Close your eyes and “see” yourself finishing that race – smiling, strong and feeling good. Think about how you will feel when you have completed the race. Imagine how amazing it will be to achieve your goal, and how proud your friends and family will be of you. - Do Not Let Negative Thoughts Enter Your Mind
If negative thoughts start to creep into your mind, don’t let them. Shake it off, and turn your mind back to positive thinking and about the end goal. Embrace your efforts and think about your achievements. - Think About the Next Leg
Don’t focus on hard this leg may be, but think about the next leg. How will you transition? What is your plan? Keep your mind busy with other thoughts rather than how hard the current leg is, especially if you’re having difficulties. - Surround Yourself With Positive People. Negative people can make you doubt yourself if they can’t do something themselves. Make sure you have positive people around when you are training, and a partner (or two) during the race. It’s so much easier to race with a friend or teammate so that you can encourage each other and stay strong for each other.
- Be Excited!
Be careful, too much excitement is a type of stress that can affect your body and mind in ways that aren’t optimal. If you’re so excited that you’re finding it hard to concentrate, you might have to take a few deep breaths and calm your nerves.
In the end, it’s all about being in the moment and remembering how much you love having the freedom to be on your bike, be in the water, or to be out there running. These thoughts alone can help you stay positive and help you finish the race. If you need help with training for the rest of the 2018 triathlon season, please contact me. I’d love to help you!
Train Right, Tri Right
Coach MJ
