James Ellington is gearing up for the biggest event of his career. The 200m British champion knows what a difference preparation can make to any challenge.
Whatever you’re doing to raise money for charity, whether it’s running a marathon or hosting an event, here’s some advice from a potential gold-medallist to help you get in the right frame of mind.
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After qualifying for the games and becoming the British 200m champion, I know a thing or two about getting into the right mindset before a big event.
Be it a competition, an exam or a marathon, the best piece of advice I can give is that preparation is key.
As an athlete, my preparation comes from a strict diet and training plan. In the run up to a competition, I’m on the track around four hours a day and I eat a high-protein diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Away from the track, it’s also important for me to be in the right head space. With thousands of people watching, the starting line can be a scary place and even after many years, I still find it hard to overcome my nerves.
One thing that helps me is watching videos of previous major tournaments the night before a race. These incredible performances motivate me to give my all and they help me stay focused on the race ahead.
Finally, I think it’s really important to remain confident in your own ability. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to do the same? Five months ago I didn’t have a sponsor and I was working part-time as a coach to make ends meet. Now, I’m gearing up for the biggest event of my career. I’m living proof that if you work hard and stay positive, anything is possible.
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Good luck James! Everyone here at JustGiving will be cheering you on.
In return for writing this blog post, James has asked us to mention UNICEF UK and Trekstock, two charities that he particularly cares about.
To donate to one of the two charities, please click on one of the links below:
Tags: Athlete, Fundraising, Gold, James Ellington, sport, The Games, Trekstock, UNICEF UK