I'm thinking the level of anxiety I have leading up to meets, especially championships, is telling me competition is not worth it for me. I wish I could see myself improving through a season so that I can be excited to find out how fast I'm going to race at the end of it. Unfortunately, I'm at that age where I'm only getting slower, and I don't have the technical background to draw upon that some others do. I always feel relieved just after a big meet, but in the months and weeks leading up to one, I have anxiety even going to the practice pool. I dread the fact that I'm facing work, not leisure. That almost guarantees a bad practice. 'Sounds crazy doesn't it? Is it time for me to quit competing? In re-reading my first sentence I'm considering, maybe I need a therapist to help me learn what small reward keeps me going back to something so stressful, or to figure out how to give myself permission to quit. I saw a video on USA swimming in which they mention, Ryan Murphy used to puke before big events. That was a little validating. So how do you forumites manage your anxiety? Or if you don't have any, how did you achieve that serenity?
Besides doing your homework in practices and preparing for the races you have set out to compete in, I would advise that you create a pre-race routine for yourself. It's a great coping tool that athletes can use to steady their nerves and increase control over their thoughts before races. Here's an article by sports psychologist Jennifer Lager that gives further insight into the pre-race routine: www.swimspire.com/.../
Good luck!
Besides doing your homework in practices and preparing for the races you have set out to compete in, I would advise that you create a pre-race routine for yourself. It's a great coping tool that athletes can use to steady their nerves and increase control over their thoughts before races. Here's an article by sports psychologist Jennifer Lager that gives further insight into the pre-race routine: www.swimspire.com/.../
Good luck!
