Signing up to do a race can mean many things to many people. Perhaps it was a goal that forced you to train for something, a deadline that dictated preparation. More commonly, maybe it is just for fun. (maybe thats the best reason). A final test per say for the training or studying that you did. Trying out new training ideas or nutrition concepts can be tested out. Racing strategies can be implemented.
I have always thought that most coaches and therapists should race or compete at something every now and then. A reminder of the emotions and ideas that percolate. Empathy.
The night before. Worried about getting enough sleep. Being annoyed if it doesn't work out that way.
Waking up feeling a little more nervous then a day of hard training would invoke. Checking your watch frequently. On time. Working backwards from the start, warm up. bathroom, nutrition, breakfast or meal. Feeling a little more on edge if something disrupts the pattern.
The jitters at the start. Trust your plan or go with pace. Pace to slow or to fast? A gap forms, do you go with it and risk blowing up. Can you trust your training to match the attack, do you trust yourself. Legs feel good, legs feel bad, does it matter? Should it matter? If you know your training is there, what do you believe?
Focus. Don't let the mind wander. Focus is a superpower. Pay attention for gaps. Pay attention to the pack. The ebb and flow. Let the mind wander and gap formed before you can react and the energy cost of closing it is to much.
Focus is so important I have been wondering if a supplement for improving focus is a performance enhancer. Like most things, practice and experience is probably all that is needed. I noticed significant improvement with making that my primary goal from race one to race two this summer.
The race becomes a teacher, a reminder, a test, and through it all, hopefully some fun was had.
