It's All About Mind Games

The night before speed skating nationals I couldn't fall asleep. My hands and feet were uncontrollably sweaty, while my heart was racing and mind was all over the place. I couldn't stop saying to myself, "You are going to fail." Even though I had trained for hours every week leading up to the competition, I doubted my abilities. "All the girls in your age group are so much faster." "You aren't going to win." Next day, I felt nervous walking into the arena, and little did I know that my mind was already programmed for failure.

My first race was one of my worst placings I had in my skating career. Nevertheless, I didn't let this one race drag me down to the dark hole of failure, reminding myself of the fact that I had five more races to come. Throughout the first three races, I reaped inconsistent placings, namely, 5th, 2nd, and 3rd. Although disappointment consumed me, I still had hope because my overall placing would be dependent on my last two races.

While getting ready for my fourth race, the destructing thoughts invaded my mind again. "You've already lost your opportunity to place top three, just give up." But I repeated to myself, "Grace, this upcoming race is the middle-distance. You really have to place well. Otherwise, the fifth race will be more difficult. It is the longest distance, 3K."

On the last lap during the fourth race, I lost all my energy and saw other skaters were catching up to me. In seconds, two skaters passed me. Immediately, it felt as if...