--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I step on a starting block, I will…" description: "\"Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times and shake out my arms twice. I don't feel ready to race unless I do that.\" — Jessica Long" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg" --- # Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times… ![“Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times and shake out my arms twice. I don't feel ready to race unless I do that.” quote by Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg) > “Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times and shake out my arms twice. I don't feel ready to race unless I do that.” [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal ritual that prepares the mind and body for competition, using physical actions to build confidence. **In simple terms:** Rituals can boost readiness for performance. Key Takeaway Create a pre‑performance routine. Themes confidence ritual performance Mood calm focused determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - sports - public speaking - exam preparation - stage shows Key Concepts psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What ritual helps you feel ready? - Can you adapt without it? A Different Perspective Rituals may become crutches if over‑relied on. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms Twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-twice-2725683/) [Clap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clap/) [Feel Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-ready-259607/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Shake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shake/) [Shake Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shake-arms-2725682/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-times/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is open to us all. No one will ever see life exactly the same as another. Some folks will argue that one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sereda-aleta-dailey/life-is-open-to-us-all-no-one-will-ever-see-life-exactly-the-same-as/) [Sereda Aleta Dailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sereda-aleta-dailey/) > [I feel ready to fight all of them now, the very best, including Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dubois/i-feel-ready-to-fight-all-of-them-now-the-very-best-including-deontay/) [Daniel Dubois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dubois/) > [“No matter how long the preparation, you will never feel ready to write an exam, to start a business, to be parent or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/no-matter-how-long-the-preparation-you-will-never-feel-ready-to-write/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [“For now, however, I am not prepared to see you. It's not that I don't want to see you: I'm simply not prepared for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/for-now-however-i-am-not-prepared-to-see-you-it-s-not-that-i-don-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I'm always someone who's going to speak to the girls on a level of trying to understand how they're feeling and make them feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/i-m-always-someone-who-s-going-to-speak-to-the-girls-on-a-level-of/) [Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/) > [If you feel that you're not ready to die, never fear; nature will give you complete and adequate assistance when the time comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/if-you-feel-that-you-re-not-ready-to-die-never-fear-nature-will-give/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [In most cases, no one asks what I think, and so for me to be ready to volunteer it unprompted, I have to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-williams/in-most-cases-no-one-asks-what-i-think-and-so-for-me-to-be-ready-to/) [Allison Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-williams/) > [It may take me a long time before I feel 'ready' to tour as a lead singer. I may never be ready... we'll just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-gossard/it-may-take-me-a-long-time-before-i-feel-ready-to-tour-as-a-lead/) [Stone Gossard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-gossard/) > [I'm desperate to get to another World Cup and I feel ready for the battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-makelele/i-m-desperate-to-get-to-another-world-cup-and-i-feel-ready-for-the/) [Claude Makelele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-makelele/) > [I was born, to handle situations the way I do. I've always been the type who can be thrown in the fire and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-reigns/i-was-born-to-handle-situations-the-way-i-do-i-ve-always-been-the/) [Roman Reigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-reigns/) > [I dreamed of recording a guitar album since I started playing, but I just never felt ready. I never felt like I was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-strauss/i-dreamed-of-recording-a-guitar-album-since-i-started-playing-but-i/) [Nita Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-strauss/) > [Sometimes I feel ready to settle down but then I second guess it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-feel-ready-to-settle-down-but-then-i-second-guess-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sink or swim! You never really feel ready, there is always sometime more that your mind tells you you should be doing. However, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-cook/sink-or-swim-you-never-really-feel-ready-there-is-always-sometime/) [Natalie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-cook/) > [It's really fun to have the spotlight and feel ready for it. Not in a conceited way. But just like, 'Man, I think I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/it-s-really-fun-to-have-the-spotlight-and-feel-ready-for-it-not-in-a/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [“Because here’s the thing: I was fine on my own, and so are you. But it can be hard when you feel ready for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/because-here-s-the-thing-i-was-fine-on-my-own-and-so-are-you-but-it/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) ## More by Jessica Long > [Growing up, I was one of those energetic kids who never sat still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/growing-up-i-was-one-of-those-energetic-kids-who-never-sat-still/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [There was a time I used to focus on just being skinny, and now I really think about how can I be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/there-was-a-time-i-used-to-focus-on-just-being-skinny-and-now-i/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Each year the excitement and the build-up for the Paralympics Games has grown more and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/each-year-the-excitement-and-the-build-up-for-the-paralympics-games/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I have trained so so hard to be where I am at - I train with Olympic athletes and if I'm struggling to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-have-trained-so-so-hard-to-be-where-i-am-at-i-train-with-olympic/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [There was so much pain. Every time I grew, I had to go back in for a surgery. And I remember just being really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/there-was-so-much-pain-every-time-i-grew-i-had-to-go-back-in-for-a/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Everyone had a loss or lost something during COVID. I allowed myself to take long baths, watch cheesy movies, and just tried to slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/everyone-had-a-loss-or-lost-something-during-covid-i-allowed-myself/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [In 2018 I really hurt my back, my lower back, and it's been a couple of years where we finally found out that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/in-2018-i-really-hurt-my-back-my-lower-back-and-it-s-been-a-couple-of/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I'd love to see the 200s, the 50s, the 400 IM. I would do so many events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-d-love-to-see-the-200s-the-50s-the-400-im-i-would-do-so-many-events/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I think here in the U.S., we have a hard time accepting disabilities. That's why I think it's really good to share and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-think-here-in-the-u-s-we-have-a-hard-time-accepting-disabilities/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Swimming forced me to deal with the things I wanted to escape. It helped me work through a lot of feelings and frustrations, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/swimming-forced-me-to-deal-with-the-things-i-wanted-to-escape-it/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [The idea that I got to be on a team with Trischa Zorn - as a 12-year-old - is wild to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/the-idea-that-i-got-to-be-on-a-team-with-trischa-zorn-as-a-12-year/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Putting on shoes with my prosthetic legs is still hard for me, but at the end of the day, I'm just putting on really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/putting-on-shoes-with-my-prosthetic-legs-is-still-hard-for-me-but-at/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [When I first began competing, brands were quite hesitant to feature disabled athletes in advertisements, perhaps due to a fear of offending consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/when-i-first-began-competing-brands-were-quite-hesitant-to-feature/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [I was never bullied as a kid, and I didn't know that I was going to be bullied by adults because I park in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/i-was-never-bullied-as-a-kid-and-i-didn-t-know-that-i-was-going-to-be/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [At age 4 I started in gymnastics and used that as an outlet for my endless energy for several years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/at-age-4-i-started-in-gymnastics-and-used-that-as-an-outlet-for-my/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) [Explore all 99 Jessica Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) ## More Clap quotes > [For me it's the same thing if the fans boo or not, because my role is the villain. I'm happy when you clap me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-del-rio/for-me-it-s-the-same-thing-if-the-fans-boo-or-not-because-my-role-is/) [Alberto Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-del-rio/) > [“No, no,” he said. “She can’t raise it at all. She may only clap. Women must be very careful of their voices. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/no-no-he-said-she-can-t-raise-it-at-all-she-may-only-clap-women-must/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/clap-along-if-you-feel-like-that-s-what-you-wanna-do/) [Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/) > [We all can't be princesses cause someone has 2 clap when I go by...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misundertood/we-all-can-t-be-princesses-cause-someone-has-2-clap-when-i-go-by/) [Misundertood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misundertood/) > [In Japan, the way they act at shows is very different from home because they don't yell, they clap for about 10 seconds after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/in-japan-the-way-they-act-at-shows-is-very-different-from-home/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Let his herald your end,and begone with the thundder clap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masashi-kishimoto/let-his-herald-your-end-and-begone-with-the-thundder-clap/) [Masashi Kishimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masashi-kishimoto/) > [Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/don-t-clap-too-hard-it-s-a-very-old-building/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Clap, clap, let em fall slow. I know you had your fears, you can let em all go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/clap-clap-let-em-fall-slow-i-know-you-had-your-fears-you-can-let-em/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“every thunderstorm has more than one thunder clap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sable-sylvan/every-thunderstorm-has-more-than-one-thunder-clap/) [Sable Sylvan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sable-sylvan/) > [“My heart applauds inside my ears, first like a roaring crowd, then slows and slows until it's a solitary person, clapping with unbridled sarcasm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/my-heart-applauds-inside-my-ears-first-like-a-roaring-crowd-then/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I transitioned into theater and acting when I was about 9, community theater and musicals, being, like, chorus-kid-number-78 or whatever. But I just loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-transitioned-into-theater-and-acting-when-i-was-about-9-community/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [“What is it about the sound of clapping hands? Why does it seem like an ocean of sound, breaking like waves on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/what-is-it-about-the-sound-of-clapping-hands-why-does-it-seem-like-an/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I think you've been sleeping on the job; the city isn't exactly paradise," she said caustically. "Every time you clap your hands, another person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-oates/i-think-you-ve-been-sleeping-on-the-job-the-city-isn-t-exactly/) [Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-oates/) > [“In Ankh-Morpork you can be whoever you want to be and sometimes people laugh and sometimes they clap, and mostly and beautifully, they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/in-ankh-morpork-you-can-be-whoever-you-want-to-be-and-sometimes/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Wasting time to get it right, And you will see what I'm about. Cause I'm working a sweat but it's all good, I'm breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/wasting-time-to-get-it-right-and-you-will-see-what-i-m-about-cause-i/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) [Browse all 148 Clap quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clap/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times and shake out my arms twice. I don't feel ready to race unless I do that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessica Long" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will-clap-three-times-and-shake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clap" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will-clap-three-times-and-shake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/jessica-long-6319_race_before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will_1078572.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times and shake out my arms twice. I don't feel ready…” — Jessica Long", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jessica Long", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before I step on a starting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will-clap-three-times-and-shake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/before-i-step-on-a-starting-block-i-will-clap-three-times-and-shake/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```