Whether you’re participating in your very first triathlon or have completed countless triathlon events, race day nerves can happen. While race day nerves can be tough to deal with, especially if you’re experiencing them for the first time, there are ways to get through them and mentally and physically move on and conquer your race.
Take a look at these 5 tips for pushing through race day nerves:
1. Make Sure You’re Prepared for Your Race
It’s important to both physically and mentally prepare for your race, especially starting the week before your race. By preparing well ahead of time, you will put less pressure on yourself the morning of race day and eliminate some potential nerves beforehand.
Check out 5 Things To Do the Week Before Your Race.
2. Get “In the Zone” With Pre-Race Rituals
A pre-race ritual is a mental or physical act that an athlete takes before it’s “go time”. By performing certain behaviors or saying specific things, an athlete believes that a pre-race ritual will help alleviate nerves and create a determined focus before the start of the race.
To learn more about pre-race rituals check out Pre-Race Rituals.
3. Accept Pre-Race Feelings
As with any situation in life, it’s important to acknowledge and accept any feelings that you’re having before your race. Whether you’re feeling sad, anxious, scared, or excited, understand that feeling all of those emotions is totally normal and instead of trying to shut them out, feel them and work through them.
4. Stay in the Moment
While it’s okay to visualize the finish line of your race, don’t let that thought create worry. Try to stay in the present moment. By staying in the moment, you’ll reduce the chances of anxiety creeping in and leading you to worry about future moments you physically cannot change. Stay present and stay focused.
5. Stop Comparing Yourself
Whether you’re comparing yourself to the athlete you were 10 years ago or with fellow teammates and competitors, don’t. Comparison will bring negative self-talk into your mind, once again leading to anxiety about your race. Every race day is different. You are right where you need to be. Trust yourself, trust your training, and just focus on your own race and your own journey.
Race day nerves are a real and valid feeling. Whether you’ve participated in 5 or 50 triathlons, experiencing these feelings is a normal thing. By preparing beforehand, stepping back, trusting in your training, and staying in the moment, you can eliminate any overpowering feeling before it’s go-time. Trust in your training and believe in yourself!
Looking for more ways to physically and mentally prepare for race day? Contact me today to set up a free coaching consultation!
Train Right, Tri Right!
Coach MJ
