This is such a great question because it doesn’t matter if you’re racing, running, applying for a job, telling someone you love them, or taking a leap of faith.

It’s terrifying to give ourselves our best.

It’s scary to be vulnerable.

Daring to fail is hard.

Really hard.

We were actually JUST talking about giving ourselves our personal bests and why we feel like unless we hit our specific outcome goals, we’ll be disappointed in ourselves in our Turkey Trot training experience coaching call this week because every training experience starts with a time trial. And for many of us, there’s a real fear of giving ourselves our personal best effort because we worry that our bests aren’t good enough.

What if we’re slower than we were 2 years ago? Or 2 months ago? Or the last time you ran the distance as hard as you could? What if it’s harder than it used to be? What if we can’t finish?

Why do we feel embarrassed if we give ourselves our best and we’re slower than we think we should be? What does it mean to be fast or slow? We know that fast and slow are relative….Why is one of those things better than the other?

GANG, there are so many variables that are outside of your control on race day.

The weather.

The people around you.

Where you are in your menstrual cycle.

The pandemic.

What’s happening in your personal life.

Your stress level.

This list can go on and on so what do we do?

We focus on what we can control which, according to Sports Psychologist Dr. Bob (AKA Dr. Robert Corb) is our attitude and our effort level.

Before you take off, I want you to define a few things for yourself. So grab your journal, your phone, or a pen and paper and answer the following questions:

• What you’re racing for.

• What made you want to train for the race in the first place?

• What motivated you to show up for yourself in training?

• What does your personal best effort look like?

• What does success look like?

• What does failure look like?

• What can you do the week of your race to set yourself up to give yourself your best?

• What’s the hydration strategy?

• What’s the fueling strategy.

• What’s your pacing strategy?

• What’s your fun strategy?

• How can you find the fun when you’re in another world of pain?
  Not sure how to define these things? Turn to the online @badassladygang community.

I know that’s a lot so if there’s one thing I want you to do, it’s this— Ask yourself what giving yourself your personal best effort looks like.

Then, check in with yourself throughout the race. At any given point, ask yourself, “Is this my personal best?” Then adjust accordingly.

Do that, and I guarantee that regardless of the outcome, you’ll feel like you’ve won.

The only way you fail is if you fail to try Gang.

Kick ass. Take names. Do it for you.
🤘