Drop the Stress of Race Week

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.