{"id":25893,"date":"2018-03-08T16:11:31","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T05:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runnerstribe.com\/?p=25893"},"modified":"2024-10-06T21:14:58","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T13:14:58","slug":"dimming-the-pre-race-nerves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runnerstribe.com\/a-column-by-daniel-quin\/dimming-the-pre-race-nerves\/","title":{"rendered":"Dimming the pre-race nerves"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Column By Daniel Quin<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Runner\u2019s Tribe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recently I was reminded of a story about Robert DeCastella. Evidently he was reading a book on the bus that was taking him to the start-line of a major marathon. The visual image I create in my mind makes me smile \u2013 an assortment of nervous and sweaty marathoners, fidgeting and glancing at each other anxiously. In the midst of this I picture a big moustached Australian with hairy, tree-trunk legs pushing up against the rear of a seat, quietly oblivious to the mounting tension around him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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De Castella – Marathon – Helsinki World Championships 1983<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This story illustrates two points that I will elaborate upon: a) the potential for a wide range of anxiety or pre-race nerves and; b) the need to develop strategies to find the optimum level of pre-race arousal. <\/span><\/p>\n

First, pre-races nerves or anxiety are not necessarily a problem. The key for any athlete is to find their optimum level of arousal. (Note for later: I have <\/span>reframed<\/span><\/i> anxiety into arousal.) One <\/span>psychological theory<\/span><\/a> proposes that athletic performance follows an inverted U (below).<\/span><\/p>\n

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An athlete on the extreme left of the graph could be described as lacking anxiety. They could be unmotivated, lacking focus, or apathetic about the upcoming race. At the extreme right an extremely anxious or overly aroused athlete is likely to be burning precious physical and emotional energy. It is possible that the over aroused athlete also lacks focus, but this is because he or she is over-analysing various race scenarios and outcomes. <\/span><\/p>\n

The implication of this theory is that optimum pre-race arousal is as individual as an athlete. This is illustrated by the extremes of DeCastella and Usain Bolt pre-race. Bolt \u2018s showmanship in an Olympic final can appear excessive to a distance runner. However, his pre-race showmanship is likely to be a coping strategy in response to heightened arousal under extreme stress. DeCastella, by contrast, withdraws and appears to conserve physical and emotional energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Advertisement: Tarkine Autopilot – The new high mileage road shoe from Australia’s running shoe company. Learn more at tarkine.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To put this concept to use athletes should start to observe their pre-race arousal and ideally, over time, identify their own optimum level of arousal. It is reasonable to expect natural variations between races. For example, Eloise Wellings may find it difficult to be sufficiently motivated before a low-key, local fun run. Alternatively, with years of experience she may find the peak of the inverted U (above) in an Olympic final with relative ease and run at her best.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, how does an athlete adjust his or her arousal?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eloise Wellings Winning Zatopek:10 2015 Photo by Jarrod Partridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reducing excessive nerves<\/b><\/p>\n