EPTFocus on controllable factors
My race has a lot of different things going on. A lot of which are completely out of my control. There is the weather conditions, other competitors, race timetable, warm up area etc.
These factors will have an affect on how my races will go in terms of outcomes, yet I have no control over them. Ultimately, if I spend any time thinking / worrying about how the weather will be or whatever, it takes attention away from what I can do to have the best chance to do my best.....
Doing my "best"
This may sound cliche, but of all my mental warm up this is key. While I am obviously hopeful that I will win the race - because of many uncontrollable factors I know that it is impossible to guarantee that. All I can do is focus on doing the best I can given the conditions I am in. I have a plan for the race, I have done everything I can technically and physically in prep for the races and by sticking to this, I maximize my chances of success.
As doing the best I can on the day is my best chance of success, regardless of the outcome of the races I can still be proud of what I have done - this bit is really key!
Put things in perspective
If the races don't go to plan (I don't win) - it is really easy to think of this as the end of the world / catastrophic. In reality though, I know that if I have done my best, there was nothing more I could do. Beyond that, qualifying to go to this years World Championships, beating last years Silver medalist in the process was never something either myself nor my coaches would have expected when I first started kayaking after being scouted 8 months ago. Not going to the Worlds this year also has very little impact on my kayaking plan - the aim has been from being scouted to be competitive for the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
Beyond that, even if I don't win today and don't qualify - in the grand scheme of my life it will make next to no impact at all. I wont be laying on my death bed thinking about this race in my old age!
So those are the main things buzzing in my head now - obviously I am still nervous, excited and ready to smash it, but focusing on keeping a cool head will ultimately maximize my chances today and in any other events!
Thanks for reading :D
