Before the game happens:
Competition can bring a lot of nerves. As athletes, we don’t want our training to be for nothing. However, because we want things to go right, we could also get hung up on what happens if things go wrong. It’s one of the biggest factors of performance anxiety. Why do we feel it? At the time of this writing, I will have completed my fourth marathon. I still feel the nerves when it comes to getting ready for a race. Feeling anxious is completely normal. How we respond to the nerves is another story.
Where Does Anxiety Come From?
Why do we feel anxious? It had to have come from somewhere. We did not come into this world with fear of failure. There is no one concrete answer. Every person is different. For me, I hate having to explain why something went wrong even though I did all the work. It makes me really upset when I constantly must say “I don’t know why it went wrong.” It made me think that someone would make me believe that I was the reason why things fell apart. I used to think if you did everything right, you would always be rewarded. However, that is not always true. It puts you in a better position to succeed, but it does not guarantee success. So, to understand why we feel anxiety, we must really dig deep into our past.
Shifting Anxiety into Motivation
Here is something to think about: Would you ever feel anxious over something that you didn’t care about? Of course not. I would want everything to go right for running a marathon. But I also know if I tried to make every single aspect go well, it will only cause harm. The weather, other competitors, and the course are some other examples of things that I cannot control. Thus, I should not focus my energy on those things. Instead, focus on getting the right amount of sleep, getting proper nutrition, and my mentality.
Before the Race
So, what are some of the things that I do before a race? From the moment I wake up, I write down the names of my loved ones on my hands. When I get physically and mentally exhausted, I look down at my hands and remember the people that I do this for. I also look over the months of training that I have put in leading up to the race. This way I remember all the work that I put in. It lets me know that I have done this before and I can do this again. I also make sure that I take a couple of deep breaths to help me from getting too hyped up. If that happens, I don’t think straight, I go out too fast, and the rest of the race will be nothing but pain. I think of it as, “the calm before the storm.” What are some ways you help yourself get focused before a race?
Takeaways
- While anxiety may stem from an event that happened in the past, it does not mean that it has to affect your present and your future.
- Do you ever feel anxious over something you don’t care about?
- Find the ways that help you feel relaxed and focused.
Until next time
