Simple Strategies to Stay Mentally Ready for Race Day

Anyone can get nervous before the race day. This is even truer for beginners. There are many reasons why some might feel this way, regardless of whether it is their first race or 50th. Some race-day anxiety is considered normal. It is common to feel nervous when taking on a new challenge or tackling something vital while being unsure about the outcome. You might find yourself thinking: what am I doing? I should have trained more, I don’t belong here; What if I don’t finish? What if I let down my family and friends?   Remember that the nerves you feel are just a part of your fight-or-flight response. Your heart will likely beat a little faster than usual and the palms will have more sweat on them. This is where calming your nerves is important before an annual race event in Sydney. Here are the simple strategies to stay mentally ready for race day.

1. It’s Okay to be Nervous

Remember that it is normal and okay to be nervous. Just expect it and then accept it. There are plenty of athletes who will tell you that they are more concerned about a particular event when they are not feeling nervous. Being anxious can actually be beneficial as long as you do not let it get the best of you.   One more thing that you should also accept is that it is very unlikely that you will get sufficient sleep the night before the event. Again, worrying about it is not the right thing to do. Just accept it. This is because thinking about it will just make you feel worse, which is not something you would want before a race. As it turns out, even though not getting enough sleep might not feel great, you will still be able to perform at your best, which holds the most importance.

2. Boost Yourself Emotionally

Emotions play a significant role in behaviour. Most people’s emotional state will certainly alter their feelings of confidence and motivation and control how much effort they actually put in. Individuals feel these emotions because diverse psychological changes are linked with different emotions, and change can either negatively or positively impact their performance. A recent study indicates that outcomes are substantially improved for runners when they think about a very happy moment in their life just before the event.

3. Refrain from Comparing

  Many individuals look at their competition and feel that they do not belong. They get worried that they won’t be able to perform as well as others. Comparing yourself with your competitors can indeed fill you with anxiety. Rather, it is better to measure your success according to your specific goals and your performance regardless of what anyone around you thinks or does. Also, refrain from comparing race to race. It is still true even if you are participating in the same race in the same condition.

Wrapping Up

Being nervous is not something unusual because it happens to almost every single person who prefers participating in races. There are ways to counter these feelings as well as use them to your advantage. Simply follow the tips mentioned in this article to calm yourself down before a race and complete it successfully.