Pressure Is Not the Enemy: The Mental Game of Triathlon with Dr Haley Perlus

Do race day nerves throw you completely off your game?

Maybe you second-guess your pacing, panic when things don’t go to plan or let pressure spiral into poor decisions around fuelling and performance.

In this episode of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Podcast, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with performance psychologist Dr Haley Perlus to unpack the mental side of triathlon and why pressure isn’t something to avoid, but something to work with.

Dr Perlus shares practical strategies to help age-group triathletes build confidence, stay focused under pressure and perform at their best when it matters most. From race day anxiety and perfectionism to resilience, self-talk and mental preparation, this conversation is packed with actionable advice you can apply straight away.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why pressure is not the enemy in endurance sport
The difference between mental health and mental performance
How fear and self-doubt show up for triathletes
Practical tools to improve focus and confidence on race day
Why your mindset affects pacing, fuelling and decision-making
The importance of preparation and controllables
How to stop spiralling when things go wrong mid-race
Strategies to build mental resilience during training

Whether you're training for your first sprint triathlon or chasing a PB at your next Ironman, this episode will help you strengthen the mental skills needed to race with confidence.

About Dr Haley Perlus

Dr Haley Perlus is a sport and performance psychologist who works with elite athletes, executives and high performers to optimise mindset, resilience and performance under pressure. With decades of experience in sports psychology, she helps athletes develop the mental tools needed to consistently perform at their best.

CONNECT WITH HAYLEY
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Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day

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CONNECT WITH TARYN

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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