Pre Race Jitters

Hey guys, lately, as in my last dozen XC races, I have been having some bad cases of the pre race jitters, well sort of, and was wondering if anyone else has experienced/ delt with these problems.

Most importantly is that whenever I am done warming up, and the waves start launching, I always like to get with the group, and basically focus on how im gonna win the race, the problem with this is, after 5 or so minuts of my 'focusing' my heartrate drops and im basically starting cold again.

Another problem I have been having is no matter what I do, as soon as it is 3 minuts to go, I always have to take a crap (sorry about being so blunt ) Basically I have tried everything from using the stalls half hour before launch, to having a sitting on the toilet epic ride the night before. Not sure what causes it, but having a turtlehead poking out during the beginning of a race really doesn't help.

Lastly, I get so caught up in where I want to go into the single track behind, that it destroys my starts, I miss clipping in, and loose time, and I go in last, behind people who cant keep with the leaders. Combind with wanting to sit down and relieve myself, these are some very bad starts, if anyone has some suggestions, please help! And yes I know im new here :-)

I don't ride competitively, but I used to do competitive rowing and had some similar issues. The mental preparation is just as important as the warm up, but I found it best to do all the mental reharsal actually before or during warm up so that a) you don't cool down afterwards and b) it's all exactly clear in your mind well in advance. That way you don't even have to think when it all starts.

I used to have the same um... toilet trouble too just before races (its worse with rowing cos you leave the landing stage in your boat, row a few miles up river to the start, wait 15 minutes at the start for your race, and then race all the way back with no relief - I know some who had to pee out of the boat on the warm up row).

Anyway, I guess I just got used to it and knew it was coming before races. I suppose it's the body's reaction to all the adrenaline build-up or something... and if you think about it it's no bad thing to hurl out the ballast before the start...

Dunno if that's useful in anyway whatsoever...

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tempus eundi

Had all of the above happen. Pre race anxienty can cause all of that. I'm not sure how to prevent this and I always feel like that too.

Teff

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