We’re quickly approaching a very exciting time in the world of running, as the Olympic Marathon Trials are to be raced on February 3, 2024, in the heat of Orlando, Florida. This race will determine the team of three men and three women that will represent the United States at the upcoming Olympic Games. The location of these trials has changed each time it has been raced, as cities submit bids to host and are awarded or denied by the USA Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. This year, spurring much controversy, Orlando Florida was awarded the right to host the event.
The reason for the turmoil that ensued in response to the location announcement was that the start times for the race were originally meant to be 12:10pm for the men and 12:20pm for the women. By starting a marathon that late in the day in Florida, the athletes would have to endure severe heat and humidity creating unsafe racing conditions. In comparison, most world major marathons begin much earlier in the morning to create the most ideal racing conditions for its competitors. That being the case, you might be wondering why, arguably, the most important marathon in a given athlete’s career—one that decides if they become an Olympian or not—is being held so much later in the day. Well, the answer boils down to money and marketing.
NBC, the media partner for the marathon had originally agreed upon broadcasting the event at the noon start time, hoping to draw in more viewers and thus establishing a larger fanbase for the sport and generating more wealth for the event itself. Yet the prioritization of money over health and safety did not sit well for many competitors. In response, 84 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers and notable American distance runners sent a scathing letter to the USATF (USA Track and Field) CEO raising concerns over the start time. Further discussions unfolded in response between USATF and key athlete representatives in an effort to compromise on the start time.
Yet not all athletes were supportive of changing the start time, some voicing that, essentially, they needed to suck it up and deal with the cards that were dealt. This disagreement generated discussions of whether this was a case of simply adapting to race day, environmental conditions. In the end, the start time for the marathon was moved up to 10am, which is still later than other marathon start times in comparison. All parties involved agreed on this time, so the onus now lands on the athletes to prepare for the conditions as best they possibly can.
Despite the controversy surrounding the trials and its start time, there is an important takeaway of needing to accept and be prepared for whatever the conditions are on race day. Those racing in the trials, who have some amount of privilege of funding and time, often will utilize saunas and training stints in warmer environments to ensure best preparation for race day conditions. For those who cannot afford to replicate those training methods, there are other options for bolstering confidence and assurance in one’s preparation for any type of race day conditions.
One key method of preparing oneself for any type of weather or course condition on race day would be establishing positive self-talk. If the athlete spends their time raging against the weather or bemoaning the course and its hills, then they’re setting themselves up for a negative experience. In refusing to accept the conditions as they are, the racer hinders their ability to be prepared for reality, thus setting themselves up for failure. Instead, using positive self-talk and acceptance of the environment creates a more positive and confident mindset, which opens the door for a more successful outcome for the athlete. For example, instead of telling oneself: “it’s too hot out today, I’m going to be exhausted and dehydrated,” simply note the weather for what it is and reflect on the training done to prepare for it: “It’s hot out today, and I’ve run in temperatures like this before.” The shift to acceptance and acknowledgement of preparation bolsters confidence and allows the athlete to lead with optimism instead of pessimism.
Another way to prepare is to use visualization to practice going through the course or race day before it happens. When using visualization, it’s important to set the scene as thoroughly as possible, so the goal would be to use all five of one’s senses. Imagine the heat on one’s skin, the sound one’s shoes make as they roll off the ground, see the cheering crowds, and the scent of the environment. With this technique, an athlete can live through race day before they actually experience it, therefore creating more preparation for when the moment arises.
Finally, adjusting one’s goals to account for the conditions or weather is another great way to ensure preparation. This goes along with accepting the conditions for what they are and existing within reality. Setting an outlandish time goal when the course is hilly and the weather is meant to be atrocious is not the best way to set up for a positive outcome. Therefore, scaling the goal based upon reality is a great way to approach a race experience that perhaps doesn’t call for pristine conditions. This could look like shifting from a time goal to one where the athlete is instead aiming to achieve a certain place. For the Olympic Marathon Trials, there will be very little emphasis on the times being run, instead the goal is to place top three, as that’s what’s needed to be granted a spot on the Olympic team.
The Olympic Marathon Trials are always a riveting event to watch unfold, because no outcome is guaranteed within those 26.2 miles. Besides the controversy that arose before the race could even begin, there are still so many reasons to watch and be invested in the results. Yet, the aforementioned race start time debacle does generate great discussion about preparing for any type of condition. While not everyone has access to the means of physically experiencing expected temperatures or courses beforehand; using self-talk, visualization, and adjusting goals are skills that everyone can learn how to apply to ensure the best possible outcome for their race day.
To learn more about our Sports Psychology services or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at:
Phone: 331-457-2020
Email: sports@growwellnessgroup.com
