| Any sporting achievement requires good preparation | | | | to be focused. |
| and the right kind of training but winning margins are | | | | 5. Don't lose concentration midway through the race. |
| often very small. The difference between winning | | | | Sometimes when racing halfway round you may find |
| and losing can often be the matter of a few | | | | yourself thinking about something completely |
| seconds. To make sure we optimize our performance | | | | unrelated. It is often at such times that your effort |
| we need to make sure we have the right attitude to | | | | levels will have fallen. To race at your highest level |
| racing on the day. | | | | you need to actively work to maintain a highest |
| 1. Prepare in advance of the race. | | | | effort level. |
| Make sure all your equipment is ready and prepared | | | | 6. Be wary of your mind, which wants to hold you |
| the previous day. There is nothing more stressful | | | | back. |
| than adjusting your brakes 30 seconds before you | | | | The top riders all share a common ability to ride |
| are due to start a national championship. If you know | | | | through the pain threshold. There are times when we |
| your bike is working well it is one thing less to worry | | | | need to hold back but at the same time we should |
| about. It allows you to just concentrate on your race. | | | | avoid finding numerous false excuses to slow down. |
| 2. Be focused on your own race. | | | | 7. Visualise your competitors racing from behind. |
| Don't spend time thinking of your opponents and | | | | When you feel your competitors are behind you it |
| thinking how fast they are. Just concentrate on | | | | will give you extra motivation to go faster. |
| getting yourself ready. To be concentrating on other | | | | "If somebody is chasing you, your speed will be |
| competitors will mean you lose focus and you may | | | | faster than if somebody in front of you is pulling you |
| feel inferior and unable to beat them. These kind of | | | | toward him with a rope. If you feel that a magnet is |
| thoughts do not help at all. | | | | pulling you to the finish line, you will run fast; but you |
| 3. Don't allow negative Thoughts. | | | | will run faster if you feel that somebody is chasing |
| Negative thoughts undermine your capabilities and | | | | you and you are running for your life." (1) |
| capacities. If you worry about how badly you do, | | | | 8. Don't be overly disappointed or overly excited on |
| you are more likely to perform disappointingly.. If | | | | your result. |
| such thoughts come, don't pay any attention to | | | | We can't help be happy when we do well, but if we |
| them; just let them go. Either think of nothing or try | | | | perform worse than expected we should not feel |
| to think of something positive. A clear mind is a real | | | | miserable. Often to make progress we cannot |
| boon to getting the most out of your racing | | | | improve in a straight line. It is necessary to have |
| capabilities. | | | | peaks and dips. If we become miserable because we |
| 4. Visualise your best performance. | | | | didn't fulfil our expectations then can lose motivation |
| Before the race you can visualise in your mind | | | | to train. |
| performing how you would like to. If you bring into | | | | (1) Excerpt from Carl Lewis: The Champion Inner |
| your mind the idea of going very fast it will help you | | | | Runner, Part 1 by Sri Chinmoy. |