With the Primal Throwdown Crossfit Competition in WA fast approaching this weekend...http://www.theprimalthrowdown.com/ it has got me thinking. How do we all deal with the anxiety, excitement and fear of competition? Do you lose sleep over the up and coming event? Do you talk non stop about the event to your poor colleagues or partner who have to sit and listen to you talk incessantly about something they couldn't give two left testicles about? Do you research every possible athlete and convince yourself you are doing the right thing? Do you find it difficult to eat properly? Do you tweet, re-tweet, post on facebook and reply to posts, read blogs, books, documentaries? Do you walk around in a daze dreaming about standing on the top of the podium or panic because you think you will come last in every event? Take a second or two to think about the sort of person you are....
I myself am the sort of person who gets excited about competition. The fear of the unknown WODs (workout of the day) gets my buzz on. I go by the thought process of...I will give it my best shot and if I can't complete the workout for whatever reason, then who cares. At least i was in the competition and gave it a shot. I love the unknown of new workouts, it fuels the fire in my competitive belly. Just trying to figure out whether i have what it takes to do reasonably well in a workout i have never attempted before is all par for the course. Is it justifiable to fear the unknown? Some say of course it is, others think not, but I guess ultimately it is finding a way to channel that fear and anxiety into energy for your workouts. I know that if a heavy snatch or overhead squat comes my way i am in strife..but...at least i can attempt it and have a laugh at how appalling my squats are and take it back to the gym with me to work on for next year.
Throughout Crossfit boxes across WA there are over 300 competitors who have entered into the Primal Throwdown as either a beginner, intermediate or advanced athlete. All of which have no doubt been discussing with fellow athletes what they think the wods will be. Questions like...do you think there will be swimming, skipping, heavy snatches, overhead squats, backwards running again? Heck, maybe we will all have to jump on a tricycle and do a 400m lap on a kid's bike! My point is, try not to stress about something you have no control over. Once the workouts get released (if they do prior to the event), then do your up most on the day to compete well. Take time out to enjoy the day and relish in the moment. Look at competition the way i look at golf....if you are having a bad day and can't hit a ball to save yourself, then at least you can still enjoy the walk! Hopefully if you need to, you can say, i messed up that WOD but i gave it everything in every other WOD.
Try and ensure your lead up to the event is sound by sleeping well, eating right, hydrating properly and not over training. Everything else will fall into place on the day. Support all fellow athletes and adopt the crossfit way by attempting everything. After all....who knows what will be thrown our way?!?!?
Good luck and see you at Curtin Uni on Saturday!
