Get ready to race with final Sharing Success series workshop

A final Sharing Success series workshop will see ‘some of the best practitioners in the world’ delivering a comprehensive session designed to prepare athletes for racing.

‘Get Ready to Race’ will feature key speakers on nutrition, strength and conditioning, and psychology, as well as an exciting athlete Q&A with Tokyo-bound pair Abbie Wood and Joe Litchfield. The live event will take place on 27 June at 10 am.

The two-hour session will cover every element of race preparation, providing invaluable insight which the athletes can apply to any upcoming Level X, Festival of Swimming or club competitions they may have.

Grant Robins, Swim England’s head of swimming talent, said of the upcoming event: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to learn from the best as they return to the competition environment.

“We have taken an all-encompassing approach to this workshop, meaning that each and every element of your race preparation and recovery is covered in detail.

“After what has been a long stint away from competition for many athletes, this workshop will help to give them the confidence they need to step up on the blocks and put 110% into their race”.

Key Speakers

The virtual event will be hosted by Swim England national talent officer, Richard Blackshaw, and Swim England sport science and medicine manager, Diane Elliot, who will be speaking on planning your race day, managing time correctly and also guidance on warm-ups and swim-downs.

Dan Waddingham, lead athletic development coach at Millfield School and former strength and conditioning coach to Team England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has created a segment on how to create the best pre-race routine to ensure your body is primed to swim fast, which will be delivered by Diane Elliot.

Swim England’s lead nutritionist, Jasmine Campbell, will provide you with the knowledge you need in order to fuel your body correctly before racing and also to optimise recovery in between sessions.

Serena McLead, one of Swim England Talent’s sports psychologists, will be discussing how to overcome pre-race nerves and getting into the correct competition mindset.

Abbie Wood and Joe Litchfield, who are both set to step onto the biggest international stage of all at next month’s Olympics, will be leading an interactive Q&A where attendees can ask them questions on how they prepare for big races.

‘Best in the world’

Diane Elliot said of the virtual event: “This event is going to be of a very high quality as some of the best practitioners and athletes in the world will be joining us for this workshop.

“It’s exciting to see so many athletes already taking part in Level X competitions as well as gearing up for the upcoming Festival of Swimming, so this event will be a great addition to the preparations.

Richard Blackshaw commented on the diversity of the content that will be delivered, saying: “This workshop is applicable to athletes of all ages and levels and will be of great benefit to any upcoming racing they have.

“We have designed a complete race toolkit for them to take away and implement in their home programmes. Learning from experts in the field as well as athletes who are at the top of their game will be an invaluable experience for anyone who joins us.

The two-hour session is open exclusively to all Swim England Category 2 members aged 11 and above and is available to purchase here via the Swim England shop.

The session will also be available for all members to purchase here and will be available until 11.59 pm on 30 June 2021.