Running a race can sometimes be scary. Knowing that you are going to push your body’s limit causes anxiety. There is a way that your brain can put most of what you do. Here are ways to mentally prepare you for the next race;
1. Boosting your confidence through visualization
The human brain is made in a strange way that focuses on the negative rather than building confidence. Most of the successful athletes develop strategies to boost their self confidence and defeat negative energy and boost their positive attitude. Putting on the positive attitude you get prepared for everything and you can easily have a successful race.
2. Find your optimal zone
When it comes to mental preparedness for a race, it is important as an athlete you identify your optimal zone of arousal sine this can be beneficial. In some cases, some athletes are extremely relaxed, while others need to be really pumped up before the race. Experts advise that athletes should take deep breaths and muscle relaxation to find that optimal zone. When deep breathing this helps in inhaling energy in and exhaling fatigue out. Progressive muscle relaxation this reduces tension and creates relaxation.
3. Accept negative thoughts and avoid them
An athlete can have a negative mindset approaching a race but it good for one to know that their thoughts are harmless. As an athlete it is good to shift your focus more importantly on the race.
4. Begin your routine early
You need to know that as an athlete, a successful routine doesn’t begin on the morning of the race, rather it is a pre-race routine and hours leading up to the competition. You should apply relaxation techniques and put them into practice in advance. Sports psychologists recommend that introducing variety of techniques from breathing exercises, visualization and mental cues should refine their personal routines.
5. Enjoy the moment
As an athlete .on the race day, rather than you stressing out about the end results, you should focus on the race and doing it at your best. Encourage yourself from inside of how you enjoy racing and take it as the best opportunity to discover how good you are in racing.
6. Don’t fear
As an athlete, being nervous is good but having fear is bad. Fear is allowing something or someone to intimidate you in the race. If you had well trained and visualized yourself succeeding, there is no reason for you to fear anything.