If you are training with the intention of competing, the psychology of racing is a critical performance influence that you need to consider. Your thoughts and feelings on the day of your race will certainly influence how effectively you are able to perform to your potential. Although there are a great many different elements of psychology that you can consider from a preparatory point of view perhaps the most useful element of racing psychology that you can engage in is that of reviewing your performance effectively.
The next page has a very simple Race Review System that revolves around the idea that you need to
answer the question:
"How well did I do what I said I was going to do?"
In order to be able to answer this question, you obviously have to have some intended targets for the performance in the first place. Without these, the question cannot be answered after you have completed the race. So, unless you are taking the goal-setting ideas and concentration cue ideas from earlier, and putting them into action for races, you will not be able to make use of the review section.
The importance of the review question cannot be overstated, as it really helps you to develop the idea that confidence needs to be all about "how much do I believe that I can put into action what I say I am going to do?". If you can answer this "100% belief" then you will truly be a confident competitor. You will be able to develop this belief over time by going through the goal-setting and performance reviewing process, so that more and more you will be able to decide on race strategies that play to your strengths, and you will be increasingly confident that you can race to your potential by identifying the right concentration and motivation cues for you.
