By Pater Najem
Championship meets create a high pressure environment which can and will lead to nervous energy.
Whether it is your first state meet or you’re the defending champ, you cannot escape it. As the
meets get more selective, those nerves intensify. Harnessing and controlling that nervous energy to
perform your best is often overlooked.
Everyone, from the top seed to the last seed, feels pre-race nerves. I have been on both ends of
that spectrum, and I can tell you: the nerves never go away. To control those nerves there are some
things that I have found that have helped me when I was competing.
Pack your bag the night before. Having everything in its place ahead of time, you eliminate the
unnecessary “day-of” stresses. Is my uniform washed? What about my lucky socks? Where are my
spikes? By eliminating these stressors you get a good night of sleep and wake up with a clear and
calm mind.
Secondly, don’t change a thing. Keep things predictable. Championship season is not the time for
experiments. Keep your pre-race meals, sleep schedule, and warm-up exactly the same…or as close to
it as you can. Your routines act as a psychological signal, telling your body and mind that it’s
officially “go” time.
Lastly, and most importantly, trust yourself. You qualified just like everyone else. Trust that
your training has prepared you for this moment. Since all competitions play out differently, you
have as much of an opportunity to succeed as anyone else. View yourself as an equal to your
competitors and compete.
This is your chance to show-off. You should be proud of all the hours of hard work you have put
into making it this far. When you line up, step on the runway, or enter the ring; don’t be afraid
and stay confident. You belong there.
