Race day aromatherapy uses to give you an athletic edge

With the last Wednesday in June, our "Essential Oils for Athletes"series comes to a close. Dawn and I talk about quick pick me ups mid race.
For July we will be focusing on training camp recipes. This are simple recipes that are easy to prepare on the road and pack a huge flavor and nutritional punch. Plus they are an easy and  delicious way to get in calories when you are just to tired to eat (yes, it does happen). Look for those coming next month.


For our last essential oil, we are going with peppermint for its invigorating qualities. In addition, we utilize Oder Association to form emotion to a specific sent. 

Theory of Odor Association –scent be comes associated with a particular situation or environment; we create mental models about odor’s influence and use those models when a similar situation occurs, eliciting a pre-determined emotional response.

Peppermint oil itself helps with opening up airways as well as mental focus, two things everyone can use on the run.  In order to form the neuropathways , inhale this scent during the hard sessions leading up to race day. Then keep this little baggie with you on race gay for a quick pick me up:

• Cotton ball
• 4 drops Vegetable glycerin 
• 4 drops of peppermint oil

If you are local to Jacksonville, Native Sun is a great place to get all of these supplies.  

I also talk about forming emotional connections to a specific piece of gear, in my case a hat. This is a great example of dumbos magic feather . The hat does not make me faster, I know that, but when you are staring down a 10 plus hour day small comforts help.