6 Winning Ways Athletes Mentally Prepare
                     6 WINNING WAYS ATHLETES MENTALLY 
PREPARE FOR COMPETITION
As an athlete you spend countless 
hours perfecting your physical training 
in preparation for a competition, but 
are you ready to face the challenge 
mentally? Focus is important. Without 
it, it will be challenging to remember 
what you’ve practiced during physical 
workouts. Learning to manage stress 
properly and even controlling 
excitement can help improve your 
mental game when it's time to 
compete.
Be your best with these 6 tips for getting in the 
zone before a competition:
1. FOCUS ON TECHNIQUE
If you become consumed thinking 
about winning or losing, you'll get 
distracted from the actions you 
need to perform physically. It’s 
important to learn to ignore the 
factors the you don’t have control 
over, such as weather or terrain. 
Focus on the details you need to 
execute during competition. Instead 
of visualizing the outcome, identify 
the individual steps you need to 
take to get there.
2. UNDERSTAND HOW STRESS CAN BENEFIT 
YOU
If you become consumed thinking 
about winning or losing, you'll get 
distracted from the actions you 
need to perform physically. It’s 
important to learn to ignore the 
factors the you don’t have control 
over, such as weather or terrain. 
Focus on the details you need to 
execute during competition. 
Instead of visualizing the outcome, 
identify the individual steps you 
need to take to get there.
3. VISUALIZE YOUR PERFORMANCE
Many talented athletes practice 
visualization before a competition. 
They envision potential scenarios 
that they could potentially 
encounter and determine how they 
will respond. This helps athletes 
react quickly when presented with 
the same scenario on the spot.
4. PICK THE RIGHT PRE-EVENT ENVIRONMENT
Some people like to get pumped up 
by listening to loud, fast-paced 
music. Others feed off of 
encouragement from their fans. 
Some choose to find a quiet space 
and listen to calming music, or 
meditate. Find out which method 
works best for you and make sure 
to create replicate that 
environment for yourself prior to 
the competition.
5. PRACTICE POSITIVE SELF TALK
The narrative in your head before 
competition should be mindful and 
purposeful. Set yourself up for success 
by talking through the event in a 
positive, uplifting way, as a coach 
would motivate their team.
6. SELF AWARENESS
It’s good to be in touch with 
yourself. Understand how you 
typically respond to certain stress 
triggers and create a plan for 
dealing with them. If it helps, you 
may want to keep a journal with 
you to log your thoughts. You’ll also 
be able to review the thought 
processes you've written down and 
learn from them.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it’s about putting in the training 
ahead of time, both physically and mentally. 
Preparation can make all the difference when it 
comes time to compete.
Also, shop our full collection of running gear for 
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Original Source: https://
www.asics.com/in/en-in/blog/article/6-winning-wa
ys-athletes-mentally-prepare-for-competition