building up endurance/ running mile and pacer

Question
Hi,
at my school its time for fitness testing again and I can't get this mental roadblock of " oh the mile and pacer i hate those" I was wondering if you have any tips to mentally help prepare for the mile and pacer and lso i was wondering if you have any tips/ breathing tricks etc. that could help as well

Thanks : )


Answer
Hi Celeste
Just relax and do your best.It is perfectly normal to get a little anxious when you know your going to be tested.Even the pros get this way.It actually can help you as long as you just accept it and use it for your benefit for better performance.With breathing,just start out easy in the first 400 meters and find a nice confortable relaxed stride and that should put you on pace to finish strong for the next 1200 meters.If you go out to hard you will start having trouble in 200 meters.You will see the others come back to you in about 300 meters all the way to the finish.Last do some easy joging and a couple of 30 meters stride about 30 minutes before the start.

All the very best

John