The dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Many find fear when they’d like to achieve something, but don’t feel that they can make it happen, allowing doubt to come in.

Naturally, people tell us to get over fear, telling us to be confident and not to think about it. It may not seem like it, but it’s actually good to think about fear.

Just a different kind of fear.

Forget

You think about it the week before the meet. You take a look at the rankings, see who ran what the past weekend. The heat sheets and virtual meets are released, and you begin looking up everyone who you’ll be racing. You go to sleep the night before the meet at ease, but thoughts still consume you and you find yourself thinking only about that.

In a nutshell, you have to forget all of that when it’s race time. Go into a race knowledgeable of your competition, but at the same time, forget everything that you looked up.

Everything

When it comes down to it, everything that was listed above is pointless. Throw it out the window. Rankings and worrying will not help you win a race. It’ll actually help you do the opposite. Everything you see isn’t always the truth, so don’t always go by it.

And

You know who your competition is. You know what your coaches know you can do. You know what you can do, AND you’re going to do it! Believe it and achieve it. Go after it!

Run

Whether it’s a preseason meet, a conference meet, or the state meet, there will come a time in every athlete’s career when they have to make the decision to stand up and get on the line ready to run. All of the doubt, concern, and thoughts at that moment leave you and you run. The more you get used to having the mindset of running to compete, the more you’ll see the times drop.

A coach once said to his athletes, “Just get out and run. Trust your training, get out and compete, and the times will come.”

Think about that. Let it sink in for a minute or two. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but thinking about FEAR before your race actually can prove helpful. Don’t be full of fear! Forget Everything And Run!