The time has come. You’ve been training for months, perhaps years for this day and it’s now time for you to cross the finish line and call yourself an Ironman finisher. Training for Ironman was hard. You spent countless hours physically training all while juggling real life. Nobody but you knows how hard you’ve worked and now that race day is just around the corner, it’s your time to shine and show off how hard you’ve worked.
While training in itself should be enough to carry you through your Ironman race, mental and physical fatigue can set in.
Take a look at these 5 secrets for a successful Ironman:
1. Trust Your Training
You’ve trained for this race. Race day butterflies and anxiety can feel overwhelming but just remember that all of the hard work that you’ve put in during your training is what has brought you to this moment. You’re physically and mentally strong enough to use your training to conquer this race.
2. Pace Yourself
When you’re training solo or in a small group it’s easier to stay within your pace. You set a pace and keep it. However, when you’re in a crowd of people with all different skill sets, it can be hard to not get caught up in what others are doing. Instead of trying to keep track of the pace of the person in front of you, stay within your limits and keep moving forward. The last thing you want to do is burn yourself out because you pushed yourself too hard too early in the race.
3. Stay Focused
This is your race day. You’ve worked hard to get here. Own the fact that you put in the work and stay in the zone. While bumps may come along during race day, if you stay focused on moving forward and believe that you’ve got this, you’re mentally rocking this race which is a huge part of race day.
4. Sleep Well Before Race Day
Race jitters are real. While it can be hard to settle down the night before the big race, it’s critical that you give your body proper rest. A well-rested body will be more ready to conquer your Ironman race day. If you have trouble settling down, try popping on a calming or sleep meditation soundtrack and practice calming your breath.
5. Eat Right Before Race Day
Whatever you do before race day, don’t go out the night before and eat something new. The last thing you want to do is have an upset stomach the morning of race day from something new and strange that isn’t sitting well. Stick to basic food groups and ensure you’re not only eating something filling and nutritious but also hydrating the day before your race.
These 5 super simple yet effective secrets can be so helpful for your Ironman race. As you’re going through the motions of training you get into the flow of things and before you know it race day is coming and that is sometimes when the jitters and self-doubt talk can come in. Instead of absorbing the doubt, let it reflect away and trust is the hard work you’ve put in. Focus on your day. Believe you can cross that finish life and envision calling yourself an Ironman finisher. You’ve got this!
Looking for more helpful ways to make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared for race day? Contact me today to set up a free coaching consultation!
Train Right, Tri Right!
Coach MJ
