Racing should simply be a reflection of what you’ve done in training. There should be no surprises or guesswork with the exception of the ability to dig a little deeper and get a little more out of yourself than you otherwise would. Room at the top end of your ability that allows you to exceed previous personal standards is accomplished by physiological adaptations gained in training that are timed to present on a big day and the mental “specialness” of a race that allows you to endure more mentally than you may otherwise tolerate.
Racing requires a balance of sound pragmatic execution combined with a free flowing love and energy for what you are doing. You need a healthy balance of sticking to the plan that will allow you to maximize your physiology and enough confidence and free flow to veer from the plan when it’s necessary. These two approaches coexist when we stay present, on task and in a state of gratitude. Be on task and on target but don’t forget what makes you tick and don’t forget the joy part of the equation.
There is zero expectation when racing other than to control what you can control and execute to the best of your abilities.
