1%er Number 11 - Smile

This is a little 1%er that I discovered for myself quite by accident at a race, several years ago.

The 1%er in itself is quite simple, it is this: Don't forget to smile.

Somewhere in my files of photos I have a picture of me standing on a start line smiling. It may seem like a strange place to be expressing mirth, but smiling at that point was a very deliberate act. A habit that I got into and I think I maintained all the way up to Ironman WA last year.

The reason for the smile is simple. I always found that forcing myself to smile made me remember why I was standing on that start line and why I was doing what I was about to do. Smiling was a way to remind myself that I was starting the race by choice and that it was supposed to be fun. The smile was also a reminder that what I was doing was a sport and, therefore, wasn't to be taken too seriously.

I was always amazed that something as simple as a smile could do all of the above so effectively, but without fail I found that it did. No matter how nervous or anxious I got heading into a race making myself smile on that start line cleared the mind, focused me on what I needed to do and reminded me to go out and have fun. It was a little habit that I got into, but one that never failed me.

In long course triathlon it is very easy to get caught up in the significance of the event and take it very seriously. After all you have usually made it to the start line as a result of hours and hours of hard work and deprivation. It is understandable that for a lot of people the event becomes their entire world. However, it has always been my view that becoming too obsessed with a particular event or race isn't that healthy. Everything in moderation as they say. Getting obsessed with an event can make it very hard to maintain a good balance in life. It can also cause you to make questionable decisions around injury management and training when ill. Having your whole world revolve around a particular race can also make it quite devastating if that event doesn't go to plan.

I am not going to pretend that smiling at the start of a race will solve all of the above issues. But I did find it to be a good reminder to keep the race in perspective.

So don't forget to smile. Remember it is supposed to be fun.