The One Race-Day Ritual That Keeps Me Calm and Focused

Contributed by Ben Akin

At some point on race morning, either in T1 once you’ve finished sorting your bike and kit or waiting at the swim start, close your eyes and take a couple of long deep breaths. Use that few seconds to reflect on all the work you’ve done to prepare and the growth you’ve achieved in training. 

“There are a lot of things that can happen during a triathlon that are out of your control, and it’s so easy to pin so much into an expectation or a goal to achieve a given performance. “

You know when the gun goes you’re going to do the absolute best you can with what you have on the day and that’s all anyone can ask of you. The real “win” is what you’ve learned and achieved over the months of dedication leading into the event. 

If You Want a PB Next Season, Here's What I'd Focus On Right Now

The biggest and most important thing you can do to set yourself up for success next season is to get consistent, now! 

Before you even start worrying about the structure of any of your sessions, work out a weekly routine that fits you and your life. I’d typically start with when you can swim as this is the least time efficient discipline and then build the rest of the week out from there. Is the pool at the same facility as your gym? If so, swimming and doing your strength training back to back could be a good way to streamline your schedule. 

Got your routine down? Is it sustainable? Can you rinse and repeat it week in week out all the way through the winter? If you can then congratulations, you’re well on the way to a successful 2026 season! 

Now you have a routine that allows you to be consistent, it’s time to get specific. 

If your goal is to PB next year you need to do an honest review of where you’re at now, where you need to improve and what work you need to do to make the necessary improvements. This is where working with a knowledgeable coach can make a huge difference. 

All of a sudden you're consistently training on the specific areas you need to work on and chances are you’ll be an unrecognisable athlete next season!