Your Mental State Of Mind While Racing
How tough are you mentally? This question alone will determine how successful you’ll be on the road. It doesn’t matter how tough you may be, or how hard you try, there are usually a few loopholes in your competitor’s race and that is possible anxiety and lack of confidence. These mind frames block the ability to perform a hundred percent.
How well you keep your cool determines why you coke while others stay calm and cool. Cyclists may perform well while training, but may not live up to their potential when it comes to competition. They can lose confidence and lose their fighting spirit. The rational side begins to disappear and is then replaced with rage.
Now that you know this needs to be worked on, it’s time to establish a standard of behavior so your anger doesn’t surface. Change that anxiety into energy and your anger into a competitive mindset. If you have a self-image of winning the yellow jersey, then you’re placing massive amounts of pressure on yourself. Just know that if you lose this race, there will be another race in the future. Don’t worry about what others think. Self worth comes from within. Slow down and enjoy the moment for what it is. Competition is a part of racing and races are a measure of improving. It doesn’t matter who’s in front of you, enjoy the moment, and enjoy every pedal stroke. You’re doing something that many people are afraid to do and that’s competing in a race.
A winner needs to strategize in a race without getting emotional. This means knowing when to attack and when to hold back. Also know that crashes and flat tires will happen. Before racing, picture these situations happening and imagine yourself staying calm and cool while fixing the problem. Also never quit a race, even if it’s not going as planned. This is a very bad habit to get into. Even though it may seem impossible to win if you’re far behind, just realize there’s a 100% chance of losing if you quit. If you don’t quit, there is still that slight possibility of pulling off your greatest achievement ever and winning the race after all!
Last but not least, race your own race and doesn’t get pulled off of your game for anything. Focus on the race and what’s happening around you, and don’t focus on the outcome of the race.