Recovering quickly from a poor race may be more about attitude than ice baths. Research has shown that when we’re stressed, our bodies take longer to repair. In the study, 193 adults were given a tiny mouth wound under local anaesthesia. Those with symptoms of stress or dissatisfaction were slower to recover than other participants. So how do you stay positive if a race doesn’t go your way?
1. Put pen to paper
Keeping a journal may aid performance. ‘Whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied with a race performance, writing things down gives you an avenue to process things,’ says Paul Whisper, vice president of Athlete Performance at Under Armour.
2. Get a growth mindset
‘Educational psychology shows that a “growth mindset” is critical to learning,’ says endurance coach Tom Craggs. ‘Learn to love your “bad” races by reflecting on your taper, your pre-race routine, your pacing etc, and identify what you can tweak or change.
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Rick Pearson is the senior editor at Runner’s World UK. He’s been with the brand since 2017 and loves testing PB-friendly shoes for on and off road. Rick is a sub-three marathoner and occasionally likes to remind people of this on the Runner’s World podcast, which he co-hosts. He once raced a steam train over 14 miles (he won, narrowly) and a horse over a marathon (he lost, comfortably).
