Jan. 7, 2026

Countdown To Dopey - Race Day! Be Present, Run the Mile You’re In

Countdown To Dopey - Race Day! Be Present, Run the Mile You’re In

Race day is finally here. In Race Day of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew offers calm, grounding guidance for athletes standing on the brink of the first start line of the Dopey Challenge. Whether you’re listening on the bus, in the corrals, or the night before, this episode is a reminder to breathe, stay present, and trust the work you’ve done. This episode covers: How to calm race-day nerves and channel excitement productively Why today’s 5K should be viewed as a warm-up for the days ahead How to manage humidity, weather, crowds, and unpredictable conditions Why comparison, bragging, and other runners’ confidence don’t matter How to respond when miles feel hard, boring, or uncomfortable Why running the mile you’re in matters more than thinking ahead How to adjust pacing without judgment if things feel harder than expected Why presence, patience, and trust are the most important race-day skills Race day isn’t about perfection or proving anything. It’s about showing up, staying present, and moving forward one mile at a time. You earned this moment — now it’s time to experience it. 🎧 Race Day of the Countdown to Dopey — listen now and step confidently onto your first start line.

Race-day nerves and butterflies are normal

The 5K is a warm-up, not a test

Conditions may be humid, foggy, or unpredictable — adjust calmly

Ignore comparison and other runners’ bravado

If a mile feels hard, manage this mile only

Adjust pace early if needed — pulling back is smart execution

Stopping too long often makes restarting harder

Run your race, in your body, at your effort

Trust yourself — you did the work

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels. 

 Click here to schedule a consultation


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.