Triathlon Psychology

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Session Notes The Gladiator
Addressing:

Race Morning Nerves

That pre-race anxiety that transforms experienced athletes from confident competitors into what they call \

How The Gladiator Can Channel Race Morning Nerves in Triathlon

Posted on January 6, 2026 ~ min read
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For: The Gladiator athletes in Triathlon
Focus: Session Notes - Race Morning Nerves
Read Time: ~9 min
Session Notes January 6, 2026
Profile: The Gladiator
Sport: Triathlon
Challenge: Race Morning Nerves

In triathlon, race morning nerves refers to the acute anxiety response that transforms confident athletes into jittery, second-guessing versions of themselves in the hours before competition. For The Gladiator iconThe Gladiator (EORA) athlete, this pre-race anxiety is a battle with their own physiology that feels impossible to win.

Most advice tells athletes to calm down. Breathe deeply. Visualize success. Find your happy place. The Gladiator tries this and feels worse. Their heart rate stays elevated. Their thoughts keep circling back to competitors warming up nearby. The conventional approach assumes anxiety is the enemy. For opponent-focused competitors driven by external validation, that assumption misses something critical.

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Vladimir Novkov

M.A. Social Psychology | ISSA Elite Trainer | Expert in Sport Psychology for Athlete Development

My mission is to bridge the gap between mind and body, helping athletes and performers achieve a state of synergy where peak performance becomes a natural outcome of who they are.

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