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U.S. 1,500-meter runner Jason PyrahJason Pyrah is running in his second consecutive Olympics after qualifying third at the U.S. Trials in the 1,500 meters. In the Atlanta Games, Pyrah was eliminated in the prelims. Any kind of head games for me involve just focusing on not being distracted by other people. I’m one to really just keep to myself. I’m real quiet around my wife and my family. They know that I get irritated at little things, which kind of bugs me. I’ll be nervous, but I won’t necessarily show it that much. I do show it, though, in that I’m quiet and I don’t want to be pestered or talked to or anything like that.
Getting ready for a race is more of a focus thing. Don’t worry about anything, just focus in on the race. The physical part is done, so really it is just a mind game where you sit down and say, “Am I going to make this, or not?” You have to convince yourself that you are. For me, it’s: “You know you can run with these guys. You’ve done it hundreds of times. Go out and do it.” ... It’s a positive affirmation. I tell myself: “Yes, you are one of the best. You are the best. Go out and prove that you’re one of the best.” I’ve learned to do that over the last three or four years. That has really put my mindset right when it comes to national championships and the other races that count—especially when I know I’ve trained my butt off to get here. In the past, there was always a doubt, like, “Oh, man, did I train enough?” Or, “Oh, man, I’m standing next to [Algeria’s Nourredine] Morceli, a guy who has run 3:27.” Now, I look at him and say he’s got two arms, two legs, two eyes, just like I do. He’s every bit as human as I am, and this race isn’t any better than the one before or the one after. During a 1,500 race, if there are any psyche jobs, it may be a push or a shove here or there in the race. When we started that race [the prelims of the men’s 1,500 at the Sydney Games], Morceli automatically just went right into the side of me. He shoved his arm into the side of me and took off for the inside. Well, you can’t let something like that bother you. You just have to go with it and realize that he is going to get shoved around, too.
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