"Overcoming Jitters: My Journey to the Nationals"

                                                                        

It's completely normal to feel nervous before somebody represents Nationals for the first time, so was I . It was my nascent journey, long awaited dream, to represent The Nationals. Needless to say I am multifaceted , good at multitasking but the Nationals in athletics event. really made me feel nervous.

 Nervousness often stemmed from the anticipation of the unknown, the desire to perform well, and the pressure that come with competing at a higher level. I tried to manage my nerves and make the most 

I was prepared well in advance for the event. Being disciplined  and a sprinter, made me  Train consistently and focus on improving my skills . Though I was confident but still nervous as I sprained my leg . The physiotherapist advised me to restrict my movements. It was then that I started Imagining myself running on a track,  throwing the javelin  with precision and confidence. No doubt...Visualization  helped me to certain extent.

I could felt the sweat glands working profusely. Practiced deep breathing exercises to calm my nerves. I Took slow, deep breaths to relax my body and mind. This helped me right before my event. 

I replaced negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Reminded myself of my capacity, my achievements, and  capabilities. I also knew that the almighty is with me as I had trained myself and followed my Physiotherapist's advice staunchly.

.....I Stuck to my pre-competition routine to reduce anxiety..... Avoided overthinking or dwelling on the competition. ...Engaged in activities that  really helped me relax, such as listening to music, talking to friends, or doing light stretching.

One more thing that dawned on my mind , as I had been taught by my parents ..."Instead of fixating on the outcome, concentrate on the process of competing". This mere thought relaxed me and the nervousness evaporated.. We were being called with our chest numbers to line up on the track. I was fortunately given the row I always preferred , the first row, with no body towards my left. I gave my best .. was still on the fourth position when had ran few steps, it was as if the adrenalin rush was highest ever, experienced, mustering lot of tactics and strength, I successfully reached near the finishing point with a second position, gave my best and do not remember when my name was called up with the name of the institute, I came to Know that I stood first and gave a lead of around .075 seconds.

 While it's natural to want to win,  I set realistic goals for myself.  This took some pressure off and allowed me to focus on my own performance rather than external expectations and I won my first Gold Medal in the Race....I won the first position in race but had to learn, to make it in Javelin Throw too...

Regardless of the outcome, I treated the first nationals as a learning experience. I even came to know about my lacunas which helped me improve in the future.

Remember, my dear friends that many athletes, even seasoned professionals, experience nervousness before big events. It's a part of the journey, and as you gain more experience, you'll likely become better at managing and even using that nervous energy to your advantage.