When does the race anxiety go away?

Never. I for one love the pre-race jitters.

I stopped racing when I stopped getting nervous. No nerves meant it was no longer enjoyable.

Nervousness is fine. You'll figure out how to deal with it over time.

Is the anxiety caused by fear or excitement?  For me that feeling is the excitment and anticipation of the event and if that goes away I will stop.  That "anxiety" is the adrenaline and excitment that I love.  For others, it may be fear and make them sick.  Will be interesting to hear other responses.

x2 - I enjoy the nervous anticipation.  Think it helps me perform better.

I always get nervous. Every time I go though a race execution in my mind, my HR jumps and I get that nervous excitement. Sometimes I hate it, because it makes me second guess myself, but I hope it never goes away

Mine usually subsides when I cross the finish line!

Never for the pre-race jitters, but for me it goes away the second the gun goes off.

Mine quits the split-second I exit the swim...through my own effort.  That's when the celebration starts.

Randy

I'm in year 7 & done about 40 races and pre race jitters are better. Sometimes bigger onger races I'm better before than l am with shorter races. I used to feel like I was going to puke and why the heck did I sign up for these things.

Once gun goes off I'm fine and in the race groove.

Enjoy the excitement and pre race time.

I'm racing next week first time since IM Canada and I'm feeling that pre race angst more like excitement than nerves and I have 10 more days.

For me, the minute I hit the water I'm good.  The water surrounds me and I realize I've been here before and it's no different than the training I do everday.  It's just a swimming, biking and running....it's not like I'm storming the beach at Normandy.

It's when I'm in the water that I take the time to slow down, do the breast stoke for a moment and look around at the sea of swim caps and think, "Man, this is so cool!  All these people out here enjoying the day swimming, biking and running with me!"

~Mike

I have been getting nervous on the start line since I started running track in 7th grade.  I am not 36 and through the years I have always been nervous toeing the start line.  It what makes it exciting.  It even happened in team sports in junior high and high school, but I would think something was wrong if it one day stopped happening.

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Edited by Sharyn5 2010-04-16 4:35 PM

For some people it never goes away.

I can't recall the last time I had race anxiety. I think it may have something to do with being constantly involved in one sport or another for most of my life. There are high pressure moments in many sports and having confidence in your abilities helps eliminate any anxiety.

interesting the psychology behind a "race". why should we be nervous ? is it because we are so worried about failing and having to tell our friends ? seeing the splits drop off to ZEROS after the swim, or the bike or worse no splits. DNF. DFL. is this the horror that causes nervousness ?

anxiety is set in motion the minute you sign-up & pay, you're on the hook now. YIKES CAN I DO THIS ?

you train, you plan -- and wait fairly casually until the night before RACE DAY when the nerves start to get rattled, you start to wonder if you're really READY. self doubt creeps in, double check, triple check. mellow out so you can sleep.

you leap from bed, like a robot start downing your pre-race meal...loading up your bike, and gear in the car. making sure you don't do anything stupid, like leave your front wheel at home ( or your running shoes ).

don your race clothes, march into transition - set up. don't forget the sunscreen. don't forget to warm up. don't forget to get your chip and body markings! don't forget your cap and goggles. & don't freak out!

like a slow walk to the gallows, the bodies amass in the water for the start. chilly water - no more comfort zones left, nervously waiting for the starting gun. WHY AM I HERE ? CAN I LEAVE NOW ? (NO) BAM !!!!!! you're off. swimming like a mad person getting whacked with thrashing arms and legs. gulping water.

So ends the nervousness...

The gun goes off and it a new me   but up until that point I will make life as complicated as I can!!!

I'm always nervous, but it becomes more about performance and whether I can do my best rather than will I finish or what will go wrong.  But I think nerves can be good, just try not to psych yourself out too much!

I always get nervous, always have and always will. I would always get nervous on-deck while playing baseball and softball. It's something I've learned to control (usually). I just get so excited, sometimes I have to try to tone it down a notch or two.