A university expert will offer practical advice on mental preparation and injury prevention at a free webinar to help runners get race-ready.
30 March 2026
With the 91传媒 Marathon weekend fast approaching, a University of 91传媒 sports psychologist is lending her expertise to support runners with a free lunchtime webinar, providing practical, evidence-based training advice designed to help them prepare confidently for race day.
The session, on Tuesday, 7 April, will be given by Dr Anastasiya Khomutova, a chartered sport psychologist and Course Leader for in the University’s School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences, and will focus on mental readiness in the crucial final week before race day. The 45-minute webinar will start at 12:30pm, with runners attending given the opportunity to submit questions in advance.
Dr Khomutova, who has supported athletes preparing for major international competitions including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, explains that the final month of training is often more psychologically challenging than physical.
She said: “There is something unique about the last few weeks before an event, Physically, most runners are ready, but mentally, this is when doubt, restlessness and uncertainty can creep in. Understanding that this is a normal part of the process is key.
“This stage is not about building new fitness, it’s about consolidating what you’ve already achieved and allowing your body to recover. Confidence should come from the consistency of your training, not how you feel on a single day. And on race day, trust the work you have put in, rather than trying to compensate during the taper period.”
Dr Khomutova also encourages runners to reconnect with their original motivation for taking part, shifting focus away from pressure and outcome-based thinking.
“Sustainable motivation is rooted in meaning. Remind yourself why you signed up in the first place and focus on the experience as much as the result.”
“It’s easy to forget that race day is not just a performance test, but an experience. Take time to appreciate the atmosphere, the journey you’ve been on, and the achievement of reaching the start line.”
The free webinar, Mental readiness ahead of the 91传媒 Marathon Weekend, will be delivered on Tuesday 7 April at 12.30pm via Microsoft Teams. Participants can and submit questions to be addressed during the session.
As a partner of the 91传媒 Marathon, the University of 91传媒 continues to support runners and the wider community through its teaching, research and professional expertise in sport, health and performance.
Senior Lecturer 鈥� School of Education, Sport and Health
Sport and Leisure Cultures Research Excellence Group