Recently I’ve returned to athletic competition after several years of “retirement” and it’s reminded me that competition is all about risk. You can train perfectly, avoid illness, get plenty of sleep and eat all the right foods, but, come competition day, you may still be disappointed with your performance.
But keep in mind that it’s the agony of defeat rather than the thrill of victory that leads you to analyze your training and make changes if necessary. Furthermore, the ups and downs of competition keep it fresh, interesting and unpredictable. The lows make the highs that much sweeter.
Emotionally, it can be cathartic to have a good pity party after a disappointing athletic performance as long as you don’t wallow for too long. It’s normal to feel sad and upset and it’s important to express those feelings, but don’t get bogged down in them. Whether or not you feel like celebrating or hibernating after your event, pre-plan some fun activities. Distract yourself with a movie, dinner party, shopping – it doesn’t matter as long as it’s enjoyable and engaging. Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members.
When the immediate pain of defeat subsides, analyze where you went wrong (if you did) in your preparation and competition strategy. Were your goals unrealistic? Were you adequately trained, rested, hydrated and fueled? Did you start out too fast or too slow? Did your mind wander during competition? There’s as much if not more to learn from failed attempts than from successful endeavors. Even after more than 30 years, I still learn something new every time I compete.
Planning your next competitive event and goal can help you channel your disappointment in a positive direction. Choose your next competition immediately. The sooner you refocus your training, the sooner you’ll be able to release your disappointment. The life of a competitive athlete is as much about defeat as it is about success. Learn to handle both. Grieve, analyze, learn and plan ahead. There’s always the next competition.
Recently I’ve returned to athletic competition after several years of “retirement” and it’s reminded me that competition is all about risk. You can train perfectly, avoid illness, get plenty of sleep and eat all the right foods, but, come competition day, you may still be disappointed with your performance.
But keep in mind that it’s the agony of defeat rather than the thrill of victory that leads you to analyze your training and make changes if necessary. Furthermore, the ups and downs of competition keep it fresh, interesting and unpredictable. The lows make the highs that much sweeter.
Emotionally, it can be cathartic to have a good pity party after a disappointing athletic performance as long as you don’t wallow for too long. It’s normal to feel sad and upset and it’s important to express those feelings, but don’t get bogged down in them. Whether or not you feel like celebrating or hibernating after your event, pre-plan some fun activities. Distract yourself with a movie, dinner party, shopping – it doesn’t matter as long as it’s enjoyable and engaging. Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members.
When the immediate pain of defeat subsides, analyze where you went wrong (if you did) in your preparation and competition strategy. Were your goals unrealistic? Were you adequately trained, rested, hydrated and fueled? Did you start out too fast or too slow? Did your mind wander during competition? There’s as much if not more to learn from failed attempts than from successful endeavors. Even after more than 30 years, I still learn something new every time I compete.
Planning your next competitive event and goal can help you channel your disappointment in a positive direction. Choose your next competition immediately. The sooner you refocus your training, the sooner you’ll be able to release your disappointment. The life of a competitive athlete is as much about defeat as it is about success. Learn to handle both. Grieve, analyze, learn and plan ahead. There’s always the next competition.
Be Well,
Carolyn