Embrace the Journey: Why Racing Is About Process, Not Outcome

Today, let's dive into a topic close to every racer's heart—why it's crucial to focus on the process, not the outcome.

At its core, racing is the purest expression of your preparation and training. It's about the culmination of all the hard work, dedication, and sweat you've poured into becoming the best version of yourself. But here's the catch: it's no more complicated than that. Part of the training process is to develop self-belief so you arrive at the starting line feeling confident and ready to enjoy your day.

So often, I see athletes giving away their potential performance by over-worrying about potential consequences before they even happen. The truth is, that racing is as much a mental game as a physical one. To help you conquer those mental hurdles, let's explore why focusing on the process is the key.

Why Focus on Process?

1. Eliminates the Noise of External Factors: Suppose your swim time was two minutes longer than expected. Could it be because the course was long, or the conditions were more challenging? You risk overlooking the bigger picture when you're too fixated on specific outcomes. Instead, focus on maintaining a solid effort, sighting well, and swimming a good line. Don't judge yourself solely on your swim time because the race has just begun!

2. Encourages Experimentation: Race day isn't the time to test new things, but being open to experimentation during your training can lead to better race day processes. Success is a blend of executing your race plan and reacting smartly to the ever-changing race environment.

3. Puts You in Control: A favorite race-day mantra is 'control the controllables.' While you have only partial control over reaching specific external goals, you do have control over the process you use. Weather, wind, and other external factors can affect time and setting goals, so dismiss them and focus on how well you pace and manage the course and other factors within your control.

4 Ways to Focus on the Process

1. Trust in the Journey: Regardless of your dreams and goals, whether qualifying for Kona, achieving a podium finish, or beating last year's time, those are outcomes that need to be pushed to the back of your mind on race day. Your race day focus should be on the journey towards those goals and your personal task list.

2. Stay in the Moment: The best action plan focuses on form, fueling, pacing, and course management. Success will emerge from executing one step at a time without looking too far forward or back. It might sound simple, but remaining in the moment requires practice and confidence.

3. Rate Yourself on Effort, Not Outcome: Rate yourself based on your effort, not just the results. You're consistent and train hard. You'll feel unstoppable some days, while others will be more ordinary. The key is to give your best effort on race day and treat it as a liberating experience.

4. Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Imagine you're on a dance floor, spotlights ready, and it's time to shine. The best racers proudly take the floor, embracing the moment with big smiles and self-indulgence. They don't worry about potential consequences or what others think. Be that racer and let your training efforts flood out.

In conclusion, your training process is paramount, and it should have a mindset that's all about the process and less about the outcome. By making this shift, you'll develop more vital self-belief and enjoy your time on the race course even more. Remember, it's about the journey, the moments, and embracing the joy of racing.