Free Blade Runner by Oscar Pistorius Page A

visualising the race in my mind. It is as
though I am mentally programming myself, as I map out the
points at which I need to accelerate, others where I need to
conserve energy, and then the stretch in which I have to give
the race everything I have got. Once I have accomplished this
mental preparation I put it aside. It is time to move into the
next 'zone': at this point I prepare my starting blocks. I
adjust them and balance them until I am certain that they are
perfect. Then I move away.
    As I have said, initially I really struggled with the starting
blocks. To help me out Ampie agreed with the race starter
(who has since become a friend) that I should be allowed to
begin on my feet and not the blocks. But even then I
struggled to stay still: I fidgeted too much and so inevitably
got off to a bad start. If you are not crouched with your feet
on the blocks your initial push-off lacks coordination and is
significantly less energy-efficient. I have worked very hard to
master the blocks but I know that I have not conquered them
yet as I am still not entirely comfortable and at ease.
    No athlete manages a perfect start at every race. It is an
ongoing process, but I have found it particularly difficult not
only because I am not used to being in that position, but also
because I cannot feel the blocks as I do not have feet.
However, I have learnt an immense amount with Ampie. He
has taught me to position my body correctly, basically by
crouching down but with my body slanted forwards as the
gun goes off, ensuring that I spring off: this enables me to
gain up to 40 centimetres over the duration of the race. As
you wait for the gun to go, it is important to push your feet
into the blocks, as this will increase the drive behind you as
you push off at the start of the race.
    Returning to my 'zones', once I have checked that the
blocks are correctly positioned in the ground and will not slip
then all is ready, and it is time to wait for the race to begin.
In my opinion this is the most stressful moment: you know
that you need to relax but your mind is racing with anxiety
and concerns about the other competitors. The next 'zone' is
when you are ready to race. You must be concentrated but
calm. Competitive, but focused only on the lane in which you
will race, not on your competitors or the general excitement
around you.
    I am the kind of athlete who performs better when
running from behind. In short, I prefer chasing to leading and
so I try to avoid the eighth running lane where you are out
in front of everyone else. I like the first three lanes, since that
way I always have someone in front of me to chase. It
motivates me as I push myself to catch the person and
overtake them. It helps me to give my best at the end of the
race.
    But in the moment before the race begins, when you are
squatting down with your feet on the blocks you need to
inhale deeply a couple of times and then hold your breath. It
is vital that instead of waiting for the noise of the gun that
starts the race you concentrate on your movement. Many
athletes are so focused on the sound of the gun that when it
eventually goes off they remain immobile for a fraction of a
second. It is almost as though they have forgotten what the
gun signals and so they waste precious seconds. Instead, it is
better to assume something resembling a trance-like state, in
which you remind yourself that you are ready to run and that
it is the noise of the gun that will signal when you can go.
That way you are concentrated on the moment you propel
yourself forwards and not on the noise itself. It may seem a
small difference, but it will make you mentally stronger and
faster on the track.
    From a strictly personal perspective, it is crucial for me to
have a technique to help me cope with the enormous
psychological pressure that comes with the competition and
the racing environment. I found the nervous tension that is
inherent in the build-up to a race hard to handle. On the day
before a race I am