THE BIG RACE Coach Ed Dear Coach Ed, Hi my name is Nicole. I'm in 6th grade. I want to know how to prepare for a race mentally and physically. Thank you. Write back A.S.A.P because Tuesday I have a big race against about 103 girls and top 10 girls get to go to Ohio for a big race. I have pretty good chance. Last week I had a invatational and I came in 10th. There were 102 girls. Thanks, Nicole Dear Nicole, There are no training suggestions I could give you that would help with your race coming up so soon. You know, it sounds like you have everything together. What I tell the athletes on my youth team, before a big race, is "Relax, it is just running. You have done this before. It is no different because it is a big race. Go to the starting line relaxed, and confident you are going to run the very best you can, just like any other race. This is all I can expect and this is all you can expect." You have done the training Nicole and you ready, too. I hope you like Ohio. Good luck, Coach Ed Ed Poirier, "Coach Ed", recently was invited by the United States Olympic committee to attend a workshop and training seminar at the Olympic training center in California. Feel free to email the kid's editor at goodrow@infi.net with comments on this column.