Around here, it’s Ironman Kalmar race week. Even though I haven’t raced an Ironman in nearly a decade, I still get a little nervous thinking about the feelings that come with this week.
Taper
The old saying “If in doubt—leave it out” is especially true in the final 2–3 weeks before an Ironman, and even more so during race week. The training is done—you can’t get any fitter now. Your sessions should simply keep you active, mentally fresh, physically sharp, and feeling good.
Mental Preparation
Take time to reflect on some of the toughest sessions you’ve done in the past months or year and how you pushed through them. Draw confidence from those efforts. You probably haven’t suffered quite as much as you will on race day, but knowing you’ve endured hard moments before will help you push through when it counts.
Don’t waste energy worrying about things you can’t control. It’s fine to dream about your finish time or place, but race day is about executing your plan, soaking up the atmosphere, and testing yourself against yourself.
When the pain really sets in and your mind turns negative—or you even consider giving up—slow down, reset, and problem-solve. Decide beforehand that you will cross that finish line. Don’t give yourself an “out.” If you do, and the day gets tough, you’ll take it. Finish the race, even if your goals slip away—you’ll thank yourself later.
Think about what motivated you to take on this crazy event in the first place. Recall the people, passions, and moments in your life that give you energy. Go to those thoughts when you’re deep into the marathon and feeling miserable.
And remember—you probably won’t have a perfect day with zero issues. Ironman is long, and you’ll experience both highs and lows. If you can fight through a bad day and still put together a solid result, then when that good day comes, it will be even better. Turn a bad day into a respectable finish, and a good day into a great one.
Of course, we hope you all have amazing races—and we’ll be out there all day cheering you on!
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