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Thoughts in the head of a runner can be all sorts of crazy the week leading up to a race. It becomes obsessive, focused, anxious, excited, and everything in between (or wait- is that just me?) For those of you who aren’t a runner and want to know what the crazy is like the week leading up to a race (or if you’re a runner and are wondering if you’re normal), I thought I’d share some of the crazy obsessiveness that has bounced around my head this week.
On the weather: “I should go check the weather again. Something might have changed in the last hour and I need to know what I’m dealing with here” (thought every few hours all. week.).
On clothing: “What if I don’t dress warmly enough and I’m freezing and can’t keep running? What if I overheat but can’t take clothes off? How will I know what I need until I’m part way through the run… and then it’s too late?!” (this goes back to my post on “Now and Then”)
On music: “Playlist… songs…what will I need while I’m out on the course? Should I choose peppy, inspirational, or moving songs? Should I listen to a podcast like I do on my training runs?”
On clothing: “If I wear running tights I don’t have any pockets and can’t carry food and kleenex with me. If I wear a running skirt I can carry food and kleenex but I might get cold. What to do, what to do…”
On shoes: “I think my shoes are shot and that’s causing some of my IT band pain. I need new shoes but there’s only a week before the race. Do I risk running in new shoes with only 15 miles on them in hopes that my IT band won’t act up as much? WHAT’S THE BEST CHOICE TO MAKE?”
On pre-race clothing: “What do I wear while I’m warming up and waiting to start the race? I think I need to go out and get a throw away outfit. When can I fit this into my schedule?”
On fluid intake: (every day, every hour) “Am I drinking enough? I really need to make sure I’m really well hydrated before the night before the race so that I can be as prepared as possible. Should I drink more? Am I drinking enough?”
On feeling sore: “I think I overdid my workout on Tuesday. It’s Thursday night and I’m still feeling really stiff and sore. Taper is supposed to leave you refreshed and your legs ready to go. Instead I feel sore, achy, and like I don’t want to move at all right now. Will the soreness go away before the race?”
On my IT Band pain: “My IT band is still acting up and doesn’t feel great. I’m not sure how there’s anyway that I can go 13 miles with it being the way it is right now. This is impossible. This isn’t impossible. I can’t do this. I can definitely do this. I’m strong and trained well. Training doesn’t matter with IT band pain. I can do it- I know I can do it. There’s no sense worrying because I won’t know how it will go until I’m on the race course.”
On having to drop out of the race: “What if I have to drop out of the race part way through because of my IT band? Will people in my life judge me or think I’m weak because I couldn’t finish 13 miles? How disappointed will I be in myself? Does it really mean anything about me if I can’t finish? It doesn’t define me or mean anything negative about me if I can’t. Sometimes our bodies just can’t give what we want them to give in the moment. It will be ok if I can’t finish the race…”
On getting a sore throat: “Oh no- am I getting sick? What happens if Saturday morning comes and I have a bad cold? How will my running be changed if I have a bad cold and have a hard time breathing. Agh- go away running nose and sore throat. PLEASE.”
Thoughts get crazy. Seriously. And unchecked they can easily snowball out of control into a negative and distorted set of thinking patterns. Yes, I’ve had some crazy thoughts this week and have said too many “what ifs” and “shoulds” to myself. However, I try to bring myself back to a positive and rational place, and force myself not to check the weather ever single hour of the day because that’s just a crazy thing to do. Runners are passionate, and with that passion comes a little bit of crazy sometimes. Have you ever heard of the taper crazies? Yeah- they’re real, but they also don’t have to completely rule your thought process either.
So, if you saw me the week before the race, I would be at work happily working away, talking to clients and my co-workers. I would have no problem getting everything done during the day. However, behind the smile are all the crazy thoughts that go on. I just don’t always say them out loud because, well…. that would just be too much. Besides, behind the questions and obsessiveness is a whole lot of excitement and building energy for race morning. Saturday morning I toe the line of my 2nd half marathon. I will fight hard for a finish. I anticipate some IT band along the way, and I’ve done my best to prepare mentally for this. But I. WILL. DO. MY. BEST. And that’s what I can do. And I’m thankful I have the chance to run.
Now it’s your turn to share! If you are a runner, what do you think about or obsessively do the week before a race? How do you deal with taper crazies?
*This week I’ve continued to put everything in perspective because of the devastation of Sandy. My prayers continue to go out to those who are affected by the storm. I hope the NYC marathon will help to lift the spirits of those in the city.
Kelsey @ SoMuchLifeToLive said:
Yes, it’s so easy to get carried away by my mental craziness!!! Sometimes I over analyze everything the night before a race, and I just have to stop and say, “HOLD IT! This is all just for fun! Everyone I know is cheering for me to do well, not poorly, and no matter what discomfort I feel or obstacles I face during the race, I’m not going to die or anything like that:)” I try to remember that NOTHIng is that big of a deal, and it always helps me out!
Caroline said:
It’s so important to remember that we’re doing this for fun. My mom loves to remind me “Remember, no one made you do this.” Good to keep things in perspective:)
Jen said:
Got to love taper maddness! Deep breath and try to relax, you have done what you can and can’t change it now. Good luck 🙂
Caroline said:
You’re absolutely right. I’ve done what I’ve done and I can’t change anything now, so worrying won’t help. Thanks for the encouragement!
~jenniferlynn said:
Oh my gosh, this sounds stressful!! I am prepping for a 10k with minimal training and I feel some of the same thoughts, but now it’s even worse that I’ve read this! 😉 ahh!!
Interesting about the podcasts though.. what do you listen to?
Caroline said:
I’ve found that it’s not about what thoughts I have initially, but how I choose to deal with the thoughts or redirect them that’s important! I tend to listen to the NYRR podcast or jillian michael’s weekly podcast. Sometimes I listening to a mental health podcast since I’m a counselor as well. There’s lots of free podcast on itunes, and you can search by category which makes it much easier!
~jenniferlynn said:
I’ll have to try that; I’m going to be running more than 3 miles for the first time this weekend and have no idea how to keep my mind occupied!
Caroline said:
Definitely try the podcast. They’re great and if you space out you can always rewind and listen again. Good luck on your run! It’s always great to hit a new distance:)
Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy said:
I had the same thoughts about my shoes, but I’m so glad I bought new ones. Congratulations, again!
Jessica R. said:
I always worry about potty needs …will I have tummy troubles and mess myself? Lol excellent list of thoughts. I believe I’ve thought all of these except the IT band issue.
Caroline said:
Yup- bathrooms are a big issue, and there never seems to be enough on the race course!
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