Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The nerves are setting in..

In just over 10 days I will be participating in my very first half marathon. It has been an amazing journey for me and something I never thought I would hear myself utter. It is still very surreal to me - probably because I have yet to run that distance and have yet to complete the race so it is still intangeable to me. But that has not stopped the nerves from setting in. I am extremely nervous. It happens to me every time I prepare for a race but I think the fears are on a larger scale than before. With previous races, I may not have run the actual distance before, but I was pretty confident I could complete the race without too much trouble.

But with my last few outings, 10 miles seemed to really kick me in the face. I was tired, my legs felt like they could go no further and I could not wait to be back in my house and on the couch for the rest of the day. I was aided by my hubby's marathon friend who fed me gels and sports drinks and kept me talking the whole way, but I still felt that pain when all was said and done. I have a few more things I can change before the big day - subtle changes that are more race preparation than anything on actual race day, but that fear is still very present. Can I actually do this? Am I crazy for even attempting to do something so insane?

 
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I am trying to repeat this mantra over and over again in my head every time that fear kicks in. I have learned that running is 60% mental and that if I tell myself I can do it, I will actually do it. Too bad that doesn't stop the fear from creeping in to begin with.

For all the experienced runners out there - how did you build yourself up mentally before that first big race? Any tips for a new comer?
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2 comments:

  1. Hey Alycia, just some thoughts on your big race. (And I'm not a runner by any means, although I did a half marathon once).
    1. I read this somewhere before and it stuck with me... Which muscle is stronger, your legs or your brain? Your legs are. Your brain will give up on the run miles before your legs ever will.
    2. And I don't know if this is particularly good advice or not, but... walk up steep hills. There's no point in expending 200% energy running up a hill when in reality you're only going 10% faster than you walk.
    Best wishes, and good luck on the run!!
    -J

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  2. There's going to be nerves and there's not much you can do about it. You will probably not sleep too much the night before, so try to get as much sleep as you can the night before that. I think for my first half and full, I slept 3-4 hours of broken sleep at best.

    You really have nothing to worry about though. If you can make it to 10 you can make it to 13.1. I'll be sort of running with you, so when it starts to hurt just know that someone you know is suffering with you. Misery loves company.

    Good luck and most of all, have fun!

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