I Am Prepared – The Climb #278

Thursday 26^th October 2017

I’m feeling really good.
The start of the week was a panic, where I was stressing over my upcoming tournament. I was pushing myself, wondering if I was pushing myself too hard. Other people were taking it easy and yet I continued to train.
I was in a fog of confusion and worry.
And today I feel I’ve emerged from that fog. I feel strong, I feel calm, I feel rested. But most of all I feel prepared.
I feel that no matter what happens on Saturday there’s nothing more that I could have done. Maybe I’ve peaked too soon, maybe I could have eaten better ahead of the competition (I’ve upped my carbs), but there’s nothing I can do if it proves to be the wrong choice.
As a result, I’ve tried to take it easy today. I’ve chilled, not done much. And bizarrely everything feels like it’s fallen into place without any effort.
Even in the gym today, whereI dropped weights so not to strain myself (whilst still giving myself a workout), I feel my form was the best it’s been.
My head has felt pretty calm as well. There’s been a feeling this past week that I need to perform. When you are in such a successful school there’s this pressure you put on yourself. You feel that unless you are achieving you’re being left behind.
I feel I’ve really stepped up this year, going from being a participant to getting good. Whereas 6 months ago I’d be happy to just get a quarter final place, now I find myself feeling like I have to get a medal.
This weekend is going to be tough. There are so many good fighters, all who can beat me. And so I feel squeezed by both the pressure to perform and the pressure of having to go up against so many good participants.
But I realised that nothing is final. If I crash out in the pools on Saturday, that doesn’t mean I won’t ever win another medal. Likewise if my ranking goes down, it doesn’t mean it won’t ever go up.
I have done everything I possibly can to be in the best shape for Saturday. I can’t make the other fencers have a bad day. I can’t make them lose. I can only make myself win. And how do I do that? By putting in the work before. By being prepared.
And that’s what I’ve done. I’ve turned up to every training session. I went to Reading after getting back from Romania the same day. I went to Waterloo. I went to Hawley the next day. I’ve been to the gym. I’ve gone to the physio.
I’ve not made excuses, I’ve put in the hard work… and for that reason I’m as prepared as I’m ever going to be. I’ve taken all the things I control and done my upmost to maximise them.
Now preparation does guarantee success, but it does guarantee the best chance. So I’ve done that work. There’s nothing more I can do, except go and fight and have fun and accept that whatever the outcome, it wasn’t because I didn’t put in the work.
The only thing I really need to get my head around is the concept that I’m going into this tournament as a favourite. I’m probably going to be seeded after coming 2^nd in the last one. That’s a new experience for me, and I do feel the weight of that.
But a year ago, I’d never even won a medal. Now I’m going into this competition as a favourite. Whatever the outcome that doesn’t take away from my success over the past year. And just like I’ve done for Saturday, all that success has come from putting in the hard work.
If you want to follow more of my journey, then be sure to check me on my social channels. Likewise, if you’d like me to expand on any point mentioned above, please say so in the comments.