06/06/2025
When everything feels like its going t**s up before a race
Many a time have I experienced niggles, more than niggles, and illnesses before a race.
In Austria last year, the morning I was travelling from the UK to Austria, I woke up with swollen glands.
The next day, a full-blown head cold, the next day? A 16 mile race with 3000m of climb, and just a cheeky 35 obstacles to add on to that.
I nearly didnt race, even though that was the reason for the trip.
But it hadnât gone to my chest, my energy levels felt good on the morning, and I gambled.
And with that gamble, I was then in a suffer fest for about 4 hours.
Top 10 goal? 2nd to last elite đ
But guess what. No anxiety going into the race, knowing that I just had to surrender to the process, and accept the outcome as something that didnât represent where I was at in terms of my fitness and training.
And I (somehow between thinking I was going to pass out) enjoyed it!
I enjoyed the chats, and meeting new people as I suffered.
And I had already resigned myself to the fact that the process goal of the race was to enjoy the scenery.
What can you learn from this?
When your child gets ill the week of the race, when you get a migraine 4 days before⊠when your car breaks down and it seems like itâll be impossible for you even get to the start line⊠just remember that this is the real test. The real-life pressure-test to see if you can surrender to the circumstance, accept what is - and what will be. And crack on, to your best ability.
Be it completely resting for the whole week, making the conscious decision to nurture yourself enough to get to the start line, or to completely change your goal from a specific, reductionist, time goal to a process goal such as, enjoying a new place, or taking the opportunity to practice some race techniques you wouldnât normally get the chance to intentionally practice, its definitely a âmake lemonade out of lemonsâ moment - and to go into the race relaxed and accepting, is the strongest thing you can do in these circumstances.
Its not the race that defines you - its how you get to the start line â€ïž
