IF YOU’VE EVER stood on a start line with your heart rate climbing and your head somewhere else entirely, you’ll understand the impact of pre-race nerves – and lululemon has built something for exactly that moment.
From July 1–5, the performance apparel brand is taking over Cathy Freeman Park at Sydney Olympic Park with the lululemon breathing room just a short walk away from the arena. It’s a hybrid performance space built to help athletes lock in, focus, and, as the brand puts it, unlock their best race yet for SYDNEY 2026.
At the centre of it all is a guided breathwork experience. The idea: instead of letting pre-race adrenaline run the show, you learn techniques to convert that nervous energy into composure while keeping your heart rate in the zone you actually want it in before the race begins.
It’s a small distinction with a big effect. Most of us treat the minutes before a big effort as something to survive. The breathing room treats them as trainable; another part of the performance you can prepare for, not just the race itself.
Beyond the breathwork, the space is also designed as somewhere to land before and after you race. It’s a place to reset, connect with the broader fitness community, refuel and hear from athletes and ambassadors who’ve been exactly where you’re standing.
The program is fronted by lululemon Ambassadors Bailey O’Brien, Ben Seymour and Ryan Mannix, alongside training partners REVL. Men’s Health readers will already know the name O’Brien. Our most recent cover star headlines two of the weekend’s standout sessions: Your Best Race Yet, a practical rundown of race-day strategy and mindset, and a Post-Race Debrief with Ben Seymour, unpacking what went right (and wrong) once the dust settles.
Ryan Mannix runs dedicated breathwork sessions focused on settling nerves and sharpening focus, while REVL hosts a community shakeout run and panel talk to get the legs moving before race day.
Whether you’re racing this week or just want to borrow some of the mindset tools elite athletes use to manage pressure, it’s worth carving out an hour. Composure might be trainable after all.
The details
Where: Cathy Freeman Park at Sydney Olympic Park
When: Wednesday July 1 – Sunday July 5
Cost: Free to attend, with select sessions ticketed via Eventbrite due to limited capacity
Hours: Wed 11am–2:30pm, Thu–Sun from 7:30am (closing times vary by day – check the schedule before you go)
Secure tickets to programmed sessions via Eventbrite here – spots are limited.
