"Our bodies are at their strongest and most loose when we are free from tension," says sports psychologist Dave Czesniuk. "Get plenty of rest leading up to the race, and on the day of the race, make a deliberate effort to RELAX. Breathe deeply, keep your muscles loose and warm, and remind yourself of things that bring you a sense of calm – the feeling of accomplishment you will have upon completing the race, all the friends and family that support you, etc. During the race, continue to plan for relaxation. Dedicate certain intervals to deeper breathing. Dedicate other time to telling yourself how loose and fluid your muscles feel. Your mind will react to these statements by sending the appropriate signals to the body to relax and feel the flow."
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: My man Dave knows what he's talking about. The old saying holds the marathon is 10% physical and 90% mental. While that's simplistic, it is amazing what you can talk yourself into believing over 26.2 miles. "My muscles are loose and fluid? Hey wait... they are loose and fluid!"
So, how do you relax?
