Gulf Coast Mindset

All is calm in the world of Dollar. I am putting together final preparations to head down to Panama City and race Gulf Coast (despite not being registered yet). I have spent the last 5 weeks thinking a lot about what happened in New Orleans and trying to ensure that it won't happen again.

I am very loose right now. If anything, I am too loose. I haven't even began thinking or stressing about the race. I am more anxious about getting down there than anything. The good thing is that I know this course. I was there in November. I remember the feeling very vividly. So this puts a very positive connotation in my head.

Also, I am trying really hard to not put any pressure on myself to perform. And this is a double edge sword. On one hand, I know I am not peaking for the race so I need to focus on going out and just executing what I can. However, I still have the same time goal...sub-5. I have no clue if I am able to achieve this. I know I am capable of it but it might not be on Saturday. I was there for New Orleans just not certain now.

The bigger conundrum is will I be able to push myself at all on Saturday. I am so relaxed about the race that I am concerned that I won't push through the pain. This time I am fine if I go 5:05 or 5:30 or 6:00. I am going to let the cards fall as they may. Moving past the New Orleans incident is probably the more important lesson here. But will that satisfy me? Have I become complacent again?

I don't know what will happen on Saturday. Generally, I feel good going in. I like that I still have expectations but I am not obsessing about things. I don't feel any pressure. We will see if that is the right mindset or if it only produces a mediocre race.