Stay calm on race day. Try some pre-race sun salutations.

Hoping my worries don’t prevent me from keeping calm on race day.

Eeek! One week to go until my first Half Ironman! Am I ready? We’ll see! I know that I should be able to finish barring anything unusual happening during the race. As I countdown the final days before race day I am contemplating how to stay relaxed and calm on race morning. At this point race day nerves are starting to creep in as I begin to think about how race day will go.

Here is a breakdown of some of my worries about racing a triathlon that are making me nervous:

• The swim can cause a lot of nervous energy because there is a big difference between swimming in a pool alone or in open water in a small group than swimming in a large group where the water is churning and bodies are close.
• I think I have my fueling  and hydration all set for the race but changes in the weather (too hot or too cold) can cause disruptions to this plan. I don’t want to bonk!
• Will transitions go smoothly? When I raced the Lobsterman Triathlon I made a mistake with fueling between the bike and run that caused me to cough and gag for about two miles.
• Will I be able to shake the lead in my legs feeling that happens when you transition from one discipline to the next.

I am trying not to overthink! Sometimes it is good to write down all of your worries before raced day. This week my training needs to include finding an inner calm so I don’t freak out on race morning.

Stay calm on race day. Source

Strategies for staying calm on race day:

• Be prepared on race day. This week I will be creating my list of necessary gear and food and hydration supplies to keep my packing organized and to make sure that I don’t forget anything.
• Visualize. During my training this week I will spend some time running through my race plan while my body is going through the motion of swimming, biking, and running.
• Remove yourself from distraction. Race morning will be exciting and can be overwhelming with so many athletes and things to see. It is important to find some quiet to away from the crowd before you head to the starting line.
• Warm-up. A good warm-up is a great way to shake out the jitters and to get your body ready to move.
• Arrive at the starting-line with plenty of time. You don’t want to feel rushed on race morning so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to warm-up, to use the bathroom, to check your gear and equipment, and to eat any last minute snacks.

These are just a few of the strategies that I will be using this week and on race day to stay as relaxed as possible. What tips do you have to share?

What do you think makes you a successful runner?

More ways to connect with Organic Runner Mom

Twitter–> @organicrunmom
Instagram–> @organicrunnermom
Facebook–> Organic Runner Mom
Pinterest–> Organic Runner Mom
Bloglovin’–> Organic Runner Mom