Originally Posted by
Dfarlow
So I've given this very scenario some thought (as 55-59 Masters Sprinter), given the 2021 race schedules for Nationals vs Worlds. Nats are Sep 14-19 while Worlds are essentially less than two weeks later, Oct 2-9. How would one maintain optimal form for both, or does it make more sense to focus on just one of the two?
You could do like the British did leading up to the London Olympics by "training through" the World Championships. Basically, include Nationals in the big crescendo of training volume and intensity before you start your taper, and endure the sub-optimal results which may not be too bad. If you do this long enough, you pretty much know what times you will run in comp. Very few experienced racers are truly surprised by good performances at big events.
Basically, use Nationals as a dry run for Worlds to test the big things like:
- Performing under pressure.
- Experimenting with gears for the events.
- Strategies
- Warming up with ZERO track time. 100% on rollers or a trainer.
And small things like:
- Traveling with your gear.
- What to pack and leave at home.
- What you should have packed.
- Getting sleep the night before your big day.
- Setting up and maintaining your infield camp.
- Eating while away from home.
- Hotel routines
- What to do when you have an X hr break between heats/events (Go back to the hotel? Nap in the infield?)
Nationals and/or Worlds can be mentally fatiguing for all of those things listed above that most people never deal with when training and racing at their home track. Any combination of those can throw you off of your game. And when winners are decided by less than a second at the National or World level, those things are very important.
That being said, you could also skip Nationals and spend that time and money showing up significantly early at Worlds to get "the lay of the land" before everyone else and be in a good spot as well.