With all this done, I can do what my Mum always said I do best. Sit on my butt being a lazy POS.
The last week before another crack at Western States
It’s race week. We’ve made it. Thank you all following the journey. I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed it & the camaraderie in this group and the support I’ve received has been awesome.
But now it’s almost go time, so I thought I would share what the final days before the race look like. The physical work has been done, and for me now it’s about how do I ensure that my mind is in the best space possible. Preserving as much energy as I can, managing stress and nerves effectively, and getting into the “zone”.
Here’s how the final week plays out for me.
This week is going to fly by, but between now and race day there are preparations and pre-race obligations to take care of. With this comes added stress and time spent on your feet. Something that I think is key to remember is that nothing takes 10 minutes, you need to overestimate the time it takes to get things done. I’ve also found that knocking things out early, one after the other, is the right formula for me. Already this week I have:
Prepared my athletes training plans for the week ahead,
Scheduled interviews to be early in the week,
Gotten content around workouts to save from having special sessions later,
Written out my nutrition plan and organised nutrition into bags,
Made final decisions and tested my race kit after getting some (special) new kit from adidas TERREX
Come Thursday/Friday I should only have two main things left to do:
Collect my race number at registration and be called out as a top 10 returner from the previous year.
Fill flasks and finalise nutrition on Friday mid-afternoon.
With all this done I can do what my Mum always said that I do best. Sit on my butt being a lazy POS :)
Hah nah, but seriously I want to be as relaxed as possible and draw in on myself. My coping mechanism leading into a race.
Let’s talk about that… Hayden and I chatted about this topic on one of our last training runs together.
How do you approach the last couple of days before a race?
Do you surround yourself with people chatting and taking your mind off what's ahead? Or, do you withdraw and seek quiet time, finding a peaceful place to read or think about things?
For Hayden, he enjoys the chat, placing himself into situations where he is surrounded by people. He’s an extrovert, so being able to verbally express his thoughts helps him build confidence and deal with pre-race nerves.
For me I would rather put my legs up in a quiet space and read a book or write an article.
I’m actually reading a good book right now…
Book recommendation - The Year of the Locust.
The reading and quiet time helps me feel like I’m saving energy, and when I get to race day I’ll be jumping out of my skin with 100% to give. But that’s just me and how my mind works.
No matter how we prepare for this race everyone is going to be there to fight until they collapse. Just another reason why it’s so important to not let the race beat you before it even starts.
The people that you surround yourself with are also super important. Michelle being here keeps me relaxed and keeps me grounded.
The adidas TERREX team has set us up to be as stress-free as possible, setting us up for success. Respecting our pre-race routines and hosting us in a stunning house. There is plenty of space, so we can have our escapes, but also a common area where we can chat and hang out. The team chefs have flown in from Europe and have been busy preparing delicious meals. Nothing is too much to ask. It’s a professional setup that has really blown my mind. It really makes me thankful and appreciative of this opportunity that I’ve been given.
Nothing left to do now, but lace up and get stuck in.
If you’d like to follow the race here’s some details:
Race Start: Sunday 30th June, midnight (NZT) - Or 12:01am Sunday to make sure you don’t miss :)
You can watch the live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/@WesternStates
Paid subscribers please keep an eye out for the third and final pre-race update that will give you a look into the athlete house and our time here in Olympic Valley.
I’ll also be doing a post-race AMA next Thursday for our Paid Subscriber crew. Would love to have you join for the cost of a coffee ($5 per month)
