This is one of the easiest mistakes to make⦠and it quietly ruins your race before youāve even started.
For me, this is exactly where the anxiety hits.
Youāre stood thereā¦
doing nothingā¦
Heart rate creeping upā¦
Overthinking every stationā¦
āHave I done enough training?ā
āAm I actually ready for this?ā
āWhy did I even sign up?ā
Sound familiar?
That start tunnel will mess with your head if you let it.
Hereās what Iāve learned š
Donāt get into the start gate early.
Iām talking as late as possible.2 minutes before your wave⦠sometimes even later.
(Obviously⦠donāt be the idiot that misses their wave.)
Why this works:
⢠Less time to overthink
⢠Less time for anxiety to build
⢠You stay physically warm
⢠You keep your focus where it should be
Because the longer you stand there doing nothingā¦the more your brain starts working against you.
Simple rule for your next race:
š Stay moving
š Stay distracted
š Get in late
š Get on with it
Most people think race day is about only about your fitness.
Itās not.
Itās about managing your head when things get loud.
And this is one of the easiest wins youāre currently giving away.