To manage anxiety and mental load the day before a race, it is recommended to use mental preparation techniques to avoid 'living the race in your head' before the start.

noli's read

Sports psychology research widely supports the idea that managing intrusive thoughts and pre-competition stress influences performance. Meta-analyses (e.g., Hatzigeorgiadis et al.) confirm that techniques such as self-talk and controlled mental imagery help regulate emotions. However, it is important to note that imagery is a double-edged sword: if used in an unstructured way (anxious rumination), it can indeed increase stress, whereas if practiced as a positive visualization exercise, it improves confidence. The advice is therefore very sound in substance, although effectiveness depends on the technical mastery of the mental preparation tools mentioned by the coach. There is no exaggeration here, as the approach simply advocates for professional guidance to transform a potential source of stress into a performance lever.

the sources

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