I’m a big fan of runners visualizing their races the week of important races. Why? Because it helps you prepare for the task that lies of ahead of you, and if you do it correctly it can help you stay calm in the chaos of the race (especially cross-country races, where you have to run by feel and you don’t get any lap splits). Just five to ten minutes visualizing the race once a day can make a difference in your performance on race day. Specifically, you should see yourself running well, yet you should see yourself running a couple different types of races. Here’s an example. Maybe everyone goes out really hard the first 400m – what will you do? You still have 4,600m to run and you’ll be well served to stay patient and try to run negative splits, yet you’ll probably be buried in the crowd. Picture what that will look like, then picture yourself flying by runners the last mile and the last 800m. That’s just one example and I would recommend you have a couple different scenarios that you visualize. Just the fact that you took the time to visualize the race will make you that much more prepared for any race situation that arises.
*Coach Jay’s advice is provided as general training information. Use at your own risk. Always consult with your own heath care provider for questions relating to your specific training and nutrition.
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