Track & Field

Any recommendations for overcoming self doubt before a race?

Olympian's Secret: Overcoming Self-Doubt Before a Race

Well, experiment, junior Here, Again. Two-time Olympian. Any recommendations for overcoming self-doubt before a race. Yeah, so for me personally, there were a few things that I'd like to do before a race and if I knew I had a steep battle in front of me, I will try to set small goals on the way to a larger goal, so maybe get out and be, you know, within the pack or, you know, finish as a certain amount of time. So I would just try to break down some of the things and typically whenever you find yourself breaking down a race and then when it's time to put it together becomes a lot easier because you structure to that way. But if you're just going into a race and you're cold turkey, the best thing I could tell you, if you're trying to overcome self-doubt is distract yourself. So, like I said, you know, for me, joking playing laughs and, you know, try to forget about where I am, or what I'm doing or I would watch TV or movies or cartoons. Tunes or just try to have a free-flowing mind and if that's a problem as well. Then that nowadays and for me I'm gonna just be honest with you, I'll go to a sports like there's plenty of help that can be provided there. And if there's not one that's accessible to you, talk to a coach or a teammate, you know, just find somebody you trust and try to get your job done. But free mind, Free Run, usually turned into great performances.

To overcome self-doubt before a race, it is helpful to set small goals on the way to a larger goal, distract yourself from the situation, and if necessary, seek help from a coach or teammate.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/zgz9tnas43szo8csbgob.vtt

As a two-time Olympian, I have some recommendations for overcoming self-doubt before a race. Personally, I like to set small goals on the way to a larger goal. Breaking down the race into manageable parts makes it easier to structure and build confidence. 

If you're going into a race without any preparation, the best advice I can give is to distract yourself. Find ways to take your mind off the doubts and pressure. For me, that meant joking, laughing, or watching TV, movies, or cartoons. The goal is to have a free-flowing mind and not dwell on the doubts.

If distraction doesn't work and self-doubt persists, seeking help from a sports psychologist can be beneficial. If that's not accessible, talking to a coach or a trusted teammate can provide support and guidance.

Ultimately, the key is to have a free mind and enjoy the run. When you can let go of self-doubt, it often leads to great performances.

What has been your toughest race mentally not physically?

Olympic Games: An Uphill Battle of Mental Strength

What does it mean your toughest race mentally and not physically? I definitely have to go with the Olympic Games, man. I have the worst luck on Earth at the Olympic Games. So, in 2008, once again behind the scenes story, so I had fractured a bone in my knee and I had torn cartilage. So, probably about from USA, still the Olympics, I probably got about a week and a half of training in and then the rest of it was just rehab. Like I was in a pool or working with my physical. They're not doing things that you would think someone should be doing to actually get ready for an Olympics. Oh yeah. That was definitely definitely the toughest time I had because I mean, you had bolt, who is just now coming into his own and he would go on to break the world record there. There was no blade kit but he's just, I didn't for the longest, I didn't even think I was gonna get to run. I was just doing rehab and you know the doctors came together, our whole medical staff Team USA staff came together. They got me healthy enough to get to those rounds and literally after that race, I barely go walk. It was bad. So, Oh yeah. That one was hard to get through.

The toughest race for me mentally was the 2008 Olympic Games. I had fractured a bone in my knee and had torn cartilage, so I only had about a week and a half of training before the event. Despite this, I was able to make it through rounds of the competition, but it was very difficult mentally.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/z3xopzo3wjljwvqvhit4.vtt

The toughest race for me mentally, not physically, would have to be the Olympic Games. I've had the worst luck at the Olympics. In 2008, I had fractured a bone in my knee and torn cartilage. During the Games, I only had about a week and a half of actual training, and the rest was focused on rehab. I was in the pool and working with my physical therapist, not doing the typical training you would expect for an Olympic athlete.

It was a challenging time because Usain Bolt was emerging as a dominant force, breaking world records. I didn't even think I would get the chance to compete. I was primarily focused on rehab, but the doctors and Team USA staff worked together to get me healthy enough to participate in the rounds. After that race, I could barely walk. It was a tough experience to get through.

So, the Olympic Games, specifically that particular race, stands out as the toughest mentally for me.

What's going through your head during a race?

The Mindset of a Runner: Tunnel Vision and Reactionary Thoughts.

I'm gonna be honest with you. What's going on to your head during race? Not too much, you might be surprised if you're thinking you're probably losing. If you're talking to yourself, where you can hear people talk, you're still probably losing either that or you're so far ahead. You're not really paying attention, but most track and field athletes will tell you when they run, they kind of going to like this. I don't even know, just like a tunnel vision and you can't see or hear you just start going into the motion. So, if you haven't found that keep looking for it, I can tell you most of the The majority of my races when I ran my fastest, that's what happened. So like I said that's more reactionary. There's probably a split second of time where I am thinking and I would only time that would be is if we're coming off the tire and I'm judging to see how far people are in front because typically, when I turn, wasn't that good? And if I'm already up front host over with, but yeah, not too many thoughts. Run through your head whenever you run those distance Runners. That's what you need to ask. They run forever. That's crazy. I don't like myself enough to think that long expression a marathon. No, sir. Sure.

When running a race, most track and field athletes go into a kind of tunnel vision. There are some split seconds where they think, such as when coming off the tire to judge how far ahead people are. Distance runners need to be asked what goes through their head during a marathon.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/soxpjpyq43qysgvwol8i.vtt

During a race, not much is going through my head, to be honest. If I'm thinking or talking to myself, it's likely that I'm not performing well. Most track and field athletes will tell you that when they run, they enter a sort of tunnel vision. They can't see or hear much, and they just go into motion.

Finding that state of mind is important, and when I ran my fastest races, that's exactly what happened. It becomes more reactionary than anything else. There might be a split second where I'm thinking, usually when coming off a turn and judging the distance between myself and others. If I'm already in the lead, then it's pretty much over.

But overall, there aren't many thoughts running through my head during a race. If you want to know what goes through a distance runner's mind, that's a whole different story. They run for what feels like forever, and that's something I can't relate to. I don't have the desire to think for that long, especially in a marathon. No, thank you.

From Dream to Reality: Making My First Olympic Team

What was my favorite race and why? And that's tough. I probably say that making my first Olympic team just because it's always been the dream. I mean, as a kid you grew up and you want to be Pro but the same time to you always want to make the Olympics. So I remember in seventh grade, I wrote a report to my teacher and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said I wanted to be an Olympian and she failed me, and she told me that I should choose something realistic, so not just for that reason. Reason. But making my first team was pretty cool if it wasn't that it was probably like the 1965 rice from Korea. There was a lot that went into that store and there's a lot of people that had ran 19-6 prior. So I just wanted to show myself, I can step up to any challenge. I think that's

My favorite race was making my first Olympic team because it was always been a dream and I wanted to show myself that I can step up to any challenge.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/ltzp4dsoah2ghugplepr.vtt

My favorite race and why? That's a tough question. If I had to choose, I would say making my first Olympic team holds a special place in my heart. It has always been a childhood dream to become an Olympian. I remember writing a report in seventh grade about wanting to be an Olympian, and my teacher failed me, telling me to choose something more realistic. So, making that team was a significant achievement for me, proving that dreams can come true.

If it wasn't for that, another memorable race would be the 1965 race in Korea. There was a lot of history and significance surrounding that event, with many talented runners having achieved great times prior. I wanted to prove to myself that I could rise to any challenge and show my capabilities.

Overall, these races hold special meaning to me for different reasons, whether it's the fulfillment of a childhood dream or the opportunity to overcome challenges and push myself further.

When was the first time that you pulled off a major upset and beat someone you were not expected, or achieved a result that helped build confidence?

From Fourth to Second: Overcoming Adversity to Achieve Victory

It's kind of Bittersweet to answer this question because I mean, although I didn't win the race but so I actually finished fourth place and my first world championship trials in 2005, and I didn't actually make the team. It wasn't until shine. Crawford pulled out of the 200 because of injury that I was extended an invitation to be imparted to be a part of the team. So that was 25 2005 in Helsinki, and I ended up getting second place. There was some hazing and some other things I have happened behind closed doors and will tell their stories on another day. But actually, you know, from not being on the team to end up second place. I think that was the first time in my life. I kind of realized like I definitely belong here, man. If this is something, if I put my heart and soul into it, work my butt off. I can make this this dream, turn into reality so that helped build a lot of confidence. Even at my worst, I still ended up S. Think that be

I didn't make the team in my first World Championship Trials in 2005, but I ended up getting second place. This gave me the confidence to know that I could turn my dreams into reality and that I belonged at this level.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/je7zgwhkaao9cyic5sla.vtt

The first time I pulled off a major upset and achieved a result that helped build my confidence was during the 2005 World Championship trials. Although I finished fourth place initially, Shine Crawford's injury led to an invitation for me to join the team. In the end, I secured second place in the competition held in Helsinki.

While there were some challenges and hazing behind closed doors, this experience made me realize that I truly belonged in the sport. It showed me that with dedication, hard work, and putting my heart and soul into it, I could turn my dream into a reality. This achievement boosted my confidence and reminded me that even in challenging times, I could still come out on top.

Are performance numbers the only way to judge an athlete's greatness?

Performance Numbers Alone Don't Define Athlete Greatness

Our performers numbers only way to judge an athlete's greatness. Hey, no, not even close. I can say Mike Rogers. So, Mike Rogers might not have been the superhero of any story. He might not have been the favorite to win any championships, but if you look at the longevity, he's been around forever. Kim Collins is like that as well. Sorry pal. I mean you could use the one I guess. Technically, that would still be numbers. How many times? He's ran sub 10 versus how many medals he's received. And that's another thing that people like to use As well as Metals. So I mean I wouldn't necessarily that necessarily say that and then I can look at potential as well as some sprinters. I can go out and watch and you think they'd be great and they don't quite, you know, piece it together but they're always in the mix. So now, I think there's ever the other metrics to measure the success of an athlete but at the end of the day I'd say that most people use Metals, if that not that times and then lastly which is not too often just The longevity of someone's career.

Numbers are not the only way to judge an athlete's greatness. Other metrics that can be used include medals won, times ran and the longevity of their career.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/fu2uadst9tjemqwv7rvv.vtt

Are performance numbers the only way to judge an athlete's greatness? Not at all, far from it. Let's take Mike Rogers as an example. He may not have been the star of any story or the favorite to win championships, but his longevity in the sport speaks volumes. Kim Collins is another example. You could technically use numbers like how many times they ran sub 10 or how many medals they received, but there are other factors to consider.

Some people also look at the number of medals an athlete has won as a measure of greatness. Additionally, potential plays a role. There are sprinters who show promise but struggle to piece it all together, yet they consistently remain competitive.

So, no, performance numbers are not the sole metric to judge an athlete's success. Other factors such as medals, potential, and even the longevity of their career come into play.

Swimming

Strength

Triathlon

Photography

Nutrition

Physical Therapy

Running

Pets

Cycling

Podcasting

HealthCare

Musculoskeletal

Hockey

First Responders

Integrative Medicine

Chiropractic

Cross Country Skiing

Adaptive Sports

Climbing

Mental Health

Surfing

Tennis

Military

Mind Body

Scholars

Criminal Justice

Liquor

CrossFit

Golf

Soccer

Pickleball

Hunting

Public Speaking

Venture Capital

Sport Commentary

Competition

Opinions & Insights

Career Journey

Self Reflection

Wallace Spearmon Jr. is a retired American sprinter from Chicago, Illinois. He is a two-time NCAA outdoor champion in the 200 m and won the silver medal in the event at the 2005 World Championships. He has a personal best of 19.65 seconds, making him the 9th fastest 200m runner of all time. He has won the bronze medal twice at the World Championships in 2007 and 2009, but was later disqualified from the 2008 Olympics for stepping out of his lane.