"Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow." - Henry David Thoreau
See that little counter over on my left sidebar? Oh, you are reading this in Reader? Okay, well I will read it to you. What it says is, "8 days (and some odd hours) until the City of Roses Half Marathon".
Yes, 8 days.
I am not ready. Physically, I am fine. It is my mental capacities that are lacking. Although I KNOW I can do it, I am still nervous/scared/doubting myself.
Why? I don't know. I have done it before and it really doesn't matter if (a) I run really slow, (b) I have to walk or (c) I don't finish at all.
But I am my worst critic and am hardest on myself and I want to do well, even though I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter what happens. If I were you and you were me, I would tell you that you are going to do fine and to just have fun with it and that it Doesn't Matter! But I am me and even though I try to tell myself the same thing, I am feeling a little strange.
This always happens to me before a big race. It's like stage fright. Like cold feet. Like speaking in front of a bunch of people even though you KNOW you are prepared and you know the material. It's self doubt for NO reason.
Usually it is gone after the first mile.
However, until that first mile is under my belt (in 8 days and some odd hours), I will wonder: did I eat enough today / last night / yesterday / last week? Did I train enough this week / for the last 12 weeks? Did I train too much? Am I strong enough? Is my alarm going to go off on time? Do I really need to pee or am I just nervous?
And then, the first mile will go by and I will do what I know how to do. I will do what I have done before. I will do what I have been doing for the last 12 weeks (and years before that). I will run. I will enjoy myself. I will be reminded that those nerves are just a part of being excited.
I will be reminded that races are my FAVORITE part of running.
Have you ever run a race? If so, did you like it? Did you get nervous beforehand? Do you have any upcoming races?
See that little counter over on my left sidebar? Oh, you are reading this in Reader? Okay, well I will read it to you. What it says is, "8 days (and some odd hours) until the City of Roses Half Marathon".
Yes, 8 days.
I am not ready. Physically, I am fine. It is my mental capacities that are lacking. Although I KNOW I can do it, I am still nervous/scared/doubting myself.
Why? I don't know. I have done it before and it really doesn't matter if (a) I run really slow, (b) I have to walk or (c) I don't finish at all.
But I am my worst critic and am hardest on myself and I want to do well, even though I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter what happens. If I were you and you were me, I would tell you that you are going to do fine and to just have fun with it and that it Doesn't Matter! But I am me and even though I try to tell myself the same thing, I am feeling a little strange.
This always happens to me before a big race. It's like stage fright. Like cold feet. Like speaking in front of a bunch of people even though you KNOW you are prepared and you know the material. It's self doubt for NO reason.
Usually it is gone after the first mile.
However, until that first mile is under my belt (in 8 days and some odd hours), I will wonder: did I eat enough today / last night / yesterday / last week? Did I train enough this week / for the last 12 weeks? Did I train too much? Am I strong enough? Is my alarm going to go off on time? Do I really need to pee or am I just nervous?
And then, the first mile will go by and I will do what I know how to do. I will do what I have done before. I will do what I have been doing for the last 12 weeks (and years before that). I will run. I will enjoy myself. I will be reminded that those nerves are just a part of being excited.
I will be reminded that races are my FAVORITE part of running.
Have you ever run a race? If so, did you like it? Did you get nervous beforehand? Do you have any upcoming races?
This post is linked up with Jill at:
I love that quote...hurry up and get over the pain! Ha! I have a half coming up at the beginning of October. I have run many many races and I get super nervous before all of them! I think it is just my personality! This will be my 8th half and I'm beyond nervous! You are going to do great! You put in the work...now go enjoy your hard work!
ReplyDeleteI totally get nervous! I just ran my first half this past weekend and my knees were literally shaking as we were getting ready to start.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to do great!!
Visiting from the Fitness Friday Blog Hop - nice to visit!
I haven't run a race yet but I get nervous at the thought of doing one! And I know I will run one eventually. I'm already looking forward to the recap for your race! Have fun with it!
ReplyDeleteGreat quote. And keep giving yourself all that good advice.
ReplyDeleteI will look forward to reading your recap post!
Coming from the Fitness Friday Blog Hop.
Love the quote. And, yes, the nervous anticipation of races just comes with the territory for me. I have a half marathon coming up in October... I think I'm more nervous now than I will be on the date. Go enjoy your race!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like the feeling and atmosphere of a race! I am the same way before every race no matter what the distance. After all these years I still get butterflies while waiting at the start. But, all the second guessing and doubt disappear as soon as I cross the starting line. Just like that, without fail, it's gone.
ReplyDeleteNow 7 days and counting! Good luck. You're going to do great!
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Great quote,all the best for your half.I nervous too have a great race :)
ReplyDeleteI've raced before and always feel sick before and usually through the first mile and after that...I'm good to go and ALWAYS feel great after! :) Good luck on your run...I'm sure you'll do awesome!
ReplyDeleteI used to run a lot of 5K races but did run two 10K races.
ReplyDeleteI trained daily for a monjth or two beforehand. I did not worry about it because all I worried about was finishing. The Crescent City Classic (New Orleans) was packed. I paced myself for the first 9 kilometres and then ran as fast as I could till the end. It still took me just over an hour to complete.
It was a good feeling to do it, wished my pacing would have been a little faster.
I was very nervous before both of my marathons. The first one because I had no idea what to expect and I sort of slacked after my 20 miler and didn't properly taper. The 2nd one I was nervous because I had a time goal in mind and REALLY wanted to achieve it. Which I totally did.
ReplyDeleteI thikn I will be nervous before the Victoria half because, once again, I have a time goal.
You will do great! You have become a very strong runner! i mean, look how well you did on those 800's! You are going to do awesome!!
It's going to be amazing. You are totally inspiring me!
ReplyDelete