Talking to you all over the last few months I have realized that a lot of you get very nervous at meets, and after a comment that was made last night I understand that the bigger the meet the higher the anxiety and stress you may feel. The comment I heard was " after all the work I 've done all year I get nervous this time of year." If it makes you feel any better I feel it also.
A lot of this stress and anxiety comes from overthinking leading up to your event, and again the bigger the race the more you think. The result of all this overthinking is increase stress levels which results in weighing you down. Think of it like a giant vacuum that just sucks the energy and fun out of you, at a time in the year that should produces the best memories and results. A lot of times at meets like this I watch how you carry yourself as a clue to how I am going to talk to you. One way I can tell that your stress levels are up is the way you are sitting and walking around the deck. Are your shoulders slump over? Are you standing tall? Are you engaged with your teammates? All tell signs. What are we fgoing to do now?
When you experience that stress/anxiety the first instinct is to rush. Let's just get through it as fast as we can and this is a normal and natural reaction. We move from a state of working the problem and trusting the process, to a state of panic over what is either going on, or what could go wrong.
We have talked about this throughout the course of this season and the first step is to slow down. Remember our motto, " Right foot, Left foot, Breathe.
Swim meet can be both funand stressful. People in the stands, crowded decks, teammates and coaches cheering on the deck, competition on the right, to the left, out in front and in the rear. Warm up, warm downs in crowded lanes and lets not forget we need to have time to get that suit on, and than there is the wait for your event. If you slow down and have your plan in place than all of the things mentioned above are things that are out of your control, but if you let them control you they become that fun sucker.
When we are rushed our focus is directed at the results and outcome and not the process. All kinds of things go through your mind, What if I don't swim fast? What if I lose? What if it hurts? What if I swim fast but not as fast as I wanted? By the way EVERY SWIMMER can always go faster until we find the one that can start and finish with all zeros on the watch. Ponder that for a second.
Slowing e erything down a bit, will help you focus, keep you in the moment so that you control what you can. Slowing down helps your focus on preparation, technique, which will put you in the position to be successful.
Remember "Right foot, Left foot, Breathe" and trust the process and work all of you have put in.
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