Psyching yourself out?

I know that it's possible to pysch yourself out of races, but is it possible to have so many expectations and put so much pressure on yourself that you screw over multiple seasons? Has anyone done that/how do you stop yourself from doing that?

I feel like I might have psyched myself out my winter and spring track seasons, and now I'm worried I'm doing the same thing to my cross-country season.

Stop thinking about it. Be like a horse, be dumb and just run.

runner_dude wrote:Stop thinking about it. Be like a horse, be dumb and just run.

+1

Don't over think running. In the end it's just one foot in front of the other.

The race that you set no expectations is a race with good results.

^ +1

i kinda did that in track lol..sorta i just hated running during the spring so i didn't try and didn't care at all. But, at the beginning of the season i cared a little and kept screwing myself every race and then i was just like w/e i hate this lol. then i took my break between seasons and now im back to how i used to be.

ugh i psych myself out before races but i try to forget about it all when the guns goes off...i just find a person to follow and hold on with dear life to the finish which normally works for me but doesnt work for alot of people

I often have to use music for this very purpose--if I let myself get too anxious before a race, it can definitely impact the way I run. Now, I have to be careful to keep everything toned down before I run. I leave the music on, sometimes sleep. About 10 minutes before I have to get out there for first call or for the start of the race, I will psych myself up (not out, up) and grab a quick adrenaline rush. Thankfully, I have a few friends who are totally willing to help keep me even-keeled enough to get the most out of my runs.

I usually do better when I'm nervous but that's just me.

I just try not to think about it….I do get really nervous though. It happened to me this track season when I did not perform as well as I wanted to, and at every race, I would think of my last bad race, by the end of the season, I guess I got better about forgetting about the bad races and making it a goal to make that race really good. It worked cause at the end of the season, I broke my pr, and felt really good about my last few races.

well i understand what you mean. sometimes i just feel so much pressure i can't focus on my race. because i try to focus too much. but it helps me if i stay positive about all my races, and try to remember that i love it and it really is for fun. my best race ever was when i decided that i was only going to say positive things about it and not worry about the competition.