Calming your nerves before competition (Page 2)

Don't worry.  You'll be thinking of nothing but the race, 24 hours a day, between now and race start.  Not much you can do about it!

My recommendation is to get as much sleep as you can in tonight and tomorrow night, 'cause you probably won't sleep well on Saturday night. 

Also, too much nervous energy and adrenaline at race start tends to cause newbies to start swimming way fast and they get out of breath in the first minute.  You need to start slow and steady, make sure your breathing is under control, then speed up if you want to a few minutes into the race.

Good luck!

Brian

Ding, ding, ding!  At the end of the day, my wife still loves me, my kids still call me "dad" and the cat climbs up on my lap.  This is true whether I win the race, finish DFL, DNF, or DNS.  Now I'm free to work on how *I* feel about the race effort.  Races have a way of distorting our emotions.  From the panic and anxiety leading up to the start to the elation of completing it (or some part of it) to the anguish and dispair of not meeting some goal (Kona, a time goal, a place, or even a finish), we'll ride the roller coaster.  In a few weeks, some of the intensity will have subsided and we'll be pretty much who we were prior to the race (maybe with some changes from the experience). 

Leading up to the race:
1)  Put it in perspective. 
2)  Focus on the positives.  Visualize what that "good" race looks like again, and again, and again.  This is (or should be) your dream that is, unless you got sucked into doing this by a friend or family member...

Race day:
1)  Keep it in perspective.
2)  Race YOUR race, and don't get caught up in other peoples' race. 
2a)  It doesn't matter how fast someone else swims, swim at your own pace (and don't be afraid to wait 10 seconds to start)
2b)  It doesn't matter how light or shiny or expensive the other bikes are, enjoy riding YOUR bike. 
2c)  It doesn't matter if spandex isn't as flattering on you as it is on others. 
2d)  Take what the day offers, even if it isn't perfect. 
3)  Keep a positive attitude that you're out there doing something fun and challenging.
3a)  Thank the volunteers. 
3b)  Thank the officials and race director.
3c)  Thank the spectators (especially that special someone who got up early to come out with you)
3d)  Encourage other participants. 
4)  SMILE.  (It'll distract everyone from the ugliness of your sweaty, spandex-clad imperfect body). 

Post-race: 
1)  Bask in the glory of what you did accomplish.  Racing the race of your dreams rarely happens, but that doesn't mean your training was worthless. 
2)  Thank those people around you who supported your journey to reach for a dream.