Leading Up to Race Day

Hey guys,

This weekend I'm going to be doing the Two Town Triathlon, which is a TrySports event, with just a 300 yard swim, 10 mile bike, and 5k run. As I get closer to this first non-draft legal race of the season, I'm starting to get all of those pre-race jitters we all get when there is pressure in the race to have a good showing, a debut, so to say. As of right now, there is only about 100 people signed up, but it is my first race where I'm racing in the Open category, and I am hoping to be able to win the race. I'm running it with a buddy of mine, but he's a trainee of mine and is racing age group. Regardless of our results, we're gonna have a lot of fun!

It's nice, being in a little bit of a taper. I'm not doing that much volume on the swim, bike, or run, but I'm doing some good last-minute strength sets. They're definitely helping my stability and flexibility on all three sports, which is key leading up to a important race. This isn't really an important race, it's just that it's my first one that I know I can do well in. But, I've done so many races that I'm not too nervous about that particular race, but this one feels different somewhat. I can't really explain it too well.

I usually don't get too many pre-race nervousness anymore, and the race is this Sunday, still 4 days away. But the triathlon is very local to me, and I know the bike course better than anyone else who is running the race, guaranteed. That's not me being cocky or arrogant, I just bike the course close to every day in my training. Over the past 2 years I've probably put over 1,500 miles on a part of the course alone. So I am super excited, just because I know how to ride the road, and the course goes on a beautiful part of a road that I've been saying would be a great venue for a bike course for about 4 years now. I was so glad to see they finally are going to use Johnson Pond road as part of a bike course! That just made me happy, because I felt like somehow the race directors magically heard my thoughts and just made the course according to that. Don't judge me.

But honestly, I'm really nervous for this race. Yesterday I took my bike out and did a 10 mile time trial, just to get a gauge for my bike fitness, and averaged 24.8mph for that 10 miles. That was decent, but I wanted to be slightly faster, more like around 25 and a half or low 26's. Either way, it is what it is. The swim isn't going to be a problem, it's a 300 yard pool swim, and the run will be fun. I've planned everything out in my head, but I still have that little excitement in my stomach, just butterflies for how much fun this race will be.

So, does anyone reading this get butterflies or nervousness from that pre-race feeling? How do you usually silence it? Do you use a mantra, or just go mind over matter and dominate it with willpower? Comment on how you crush your race day doubts!

Happy training!