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Race Prep Lesson #5 - Build Routines With Your Coach!
Watch Martha's video here:
Read the lesson summary below!
Martha
When you get nervous, get butterflies, just remind yourself that it's a really good thing
Like other Head to Head mentors, Martha agrees that nerves are a normal and healthy part of swimming (and life)! It means you have put effort into your performance.
Remember - The end result doesn’t change you as a person!
Tip # 1 - Build Routines With Your Coach
Martha collaborated with her coaches when she started building her routine at 11 or 12 yrs old. They would discuss different ideas for her schedule, in pool warm-up, on land activation or anything else that they felt they could adjust to help her reach her best performance.
Martha's Pre-Race Schedule
Martha’s ‘lucky charm’ was her red Canadian mittens. She wore them before every international final from 2010 when she first got the mittens all the way to her final competition - the 2016 Rio Olympics!
Tip #2 - Write things down that are working well
Throughout training, Martha would keep track of small successes by writing them down in her swim journal. This would include things like; positive feedback from coaches, feeling technically good, posting a solid time in a workout, or... anything else that made her feel good.
This would help boost her confidence if she ever started to doubt herself when she got closer to swim meets.