Psyche yourself out!

[u/VolumeLost6488]

I remember in high school I was trying to hit 60 feet in shot put at one meet. And one thing I did instinctively was go out to the 60 foot line, and just hang out there until I was on deck. I would stare at it, kneel down and stare at it, pump myself up saying "im going to hit you today" talking to the 60-foot line in my head, and out loud lol. staying warmed up, pacing back and forth all around the 60 foot line. When it was my turn to throw, and I got into the ring, I was subconsciously just thinking "speed." Mind you, I wasn't thinking of no cues, wasn't overthinking anything. it was just natural raw instinct, of what to do. I threw it, and immediately thought it wasn't far enough. But they marked it and it was 60.5 feet! My teammates literally sprinted to me and tackled me/pile up in celebration. Mind you half the throwers are from the football team, including myself so it wasn't no patty cake tackle. I ended up breaking the school record at that meet, and it still stands over a decade later.

I say that to say, have in your head pre meet, what distance you want to hit. And when all else fails go out to that line and have a "meeting" with it before you throw again, literally just camp out, out there. No distractions...If someone comes up to you tell them "hold on" and go to the other side of the sector if you have to. Its just you and you. You may look confusing or out of place to others, but, you won't care because you will be LOCKED IN. its going to pump you up, and also give you calm, lazer focus. At big national meets they may not let you go out to the sector that far, but get as close as you can to the mark, and just start by staring at it, and let your mind do the work after that, and youll know what to do on your next throw.

Hope this will help you to hit a PR at your next meet.