In triathlon, sometimes we can work really hard to do well at a race, and still not reach the goal we set for ourselves. Whatever the reason, the race just did not go the way we wanted. Has this ever happened to you? How did it make you feel?
It’s really easy when we have “bad” days like this to get frustrated, sad or maybe even a little angry. However, there are ways to take even the toughest days and turn them into good experiences that will make you a better triathlete! Here are some tips on what to do before, during and after your race to make it a great day — no matter what happens.
Before your race #
Skills goals allow us to focus on the things that will help us achieve a faster race and give us something to celebrate when we accomplish them on race day (even if other things didn’t go the way we would have liked).
During your race #
Re-focus on your skills goals.
After your race #
Grab a piece of paper, and write down all the things that went right (skills goals you achieved, improvements in speed or overall time, challenges you handled well, etc.), and all the things you would like to improve. Remember, if something didn’t go the way you would have liked, that isn’t a failure — it’s a chance to learn and become a better triathlete. For all the things you would like to improve, write down at least one thing you can do before your next race to help you improve in that area. Share this paper with your parents and/or coach so they can help you achieve your goals!