Drop the Stress of Race Week
Race Day Tips, October 11, 2023
We put a lot of effort preparing for an event and sometimes because the training drops off in the last week we lose focus. Here are a few tips to help give you some better reults.
The last minute can be very intense and is very influential on how your race goes. Here are a few tips on how to make it more beneficial to your performance. Do - Rest. Don’t- Worry about not sleeping that well the night before the race. Do- Train. Don’t- Do any long or really hard intervals. Do- Make a list of everything positive that you have done in your build-up. Don’t- Think about the sessions you couldn’t do. Do- Allow yourself to be nervous. Nerves are good, they show you care. Don’t- Worry about being nervous. Do- Make sure your Race Gear is clean and ready to go. Don’t- Go out and buy new clothes, socks, or shoes to use on race day. Do- Be excited about the fact that your race is coming up. Don't- Be afraid or intimidated about your race. You’ve prepared for it and now you can show it off. Do- Hydrate well in the last few days. Don’t- drink alcohol in the last week. Do- pack your gear a few days out. Don’t- wait until the last night to find everything. Do- Use the extra time that you have that you’d usually use for doing some extra Yoga, Foam Roller work, or sleep. Don’t- Use it reading about training plans or strategies for training. You’ve done your training and whether it is correct or not and you can't change it now. Do- Try to eat better and look after your fluid intake. Don't- Carbo-load on Cake. Do- Be excited about the fact that your race is coming up. Don't- Be afraid or intimidated about your race. You’ve prepared for it and now you can show it off. Do- Look at the map and profile of the course and design your pacing strategy. Don't- Decide to try to change the goal you are chasing to be 10% (or more) faster. Do- Enjoy the fact that your training sessions are lighter. Don’t- Panic when your body is feeling out of sorts during the first part of your week. Do- Have a game plan where your pacing is planned on the course. Don’t- use a pace that you haven't hit in training. Do.- Be positive. Don't- Be unrealistic. Do- Believe. In yourself, in your training, and your goal.