“On your marks!”
“Get set!”
Most starters wait about 1.4 seconds after the “Get set” command to fire the start gun.
The silence freezes us in time. We listen for the first hint of sound from the gun. Breath relaxed but held. The faint sound of a heartbeat in our ears.
We visualize our next move even as that second moves slowly in the distance.
Everything has led to this moment. Everything is this moment. All the training. All the drills. The intervals. The stretching. My coach’s advice. All my doubts. All my hopes.
What will the next second bring? Will I exit the blocks cleanly? Will I stay within myself to the finish line? Will I run my own race? Am I good enough? Can I dominate?
I love starting lines. A quiet eternity of 1.4 seconds plays out for all to see.
You can learn a lot about yourself in 1.4 seconds. What you say to yourself is critical. Are you asking questions or making declarations?
Imagine asking what the next second will bring and giving yourself nothing but answers. I will exit the blocks cleanly. I will stay within myself to the finish line. This is MY race to win. I’m definitely good enough, in fact, I’m amazing! I will dominate!
It’s okay to question yourself as the race approaches. Questions prioritize preparation.
When it’s time to deliver, time to start your race, time to show what you’ve got…that’s when the questions must exit your mind.
Questions at the starting line raise doubt and inspire needless fear.
The gun fires!
Go run your race.
Photo Credit–Unsplash.com, Braden Collum—why this photo?
I looked for photos of a bunch of sprinters in the “set” stance. I found a few, but none grabbed me. This one gets to the heart of the matter. It’s just you in the blocks, alone with your thoughts. I also focused on the baton. Although we run alone, most great things are created by a team. We must be prepared to make a smooth hand-off when the time comes.
Encouragement is Personal 
Great way to “start” the week! Thanks Bob!