One week out from my first half marathon, I have an ailment rest and ice can't touch. I've come down with the jitters. After months of hard work and mornings up long before the sun, I feel completely unprepared.
My not-so-long run Saturday seemed harder than my longest run so far. It had been a long week, and I returned from an exhausting overnight trip to Pitttsburgh only to lace up and head out. My knees started to hurt immediately, and my mind followed suit. It filled me with thoughts of walking the race, of buckling leg cramps and stomach pain, of being passed by people walking.
The fact that lots of runners were out didn't help matters. I was passed twice by a man who was doing, at minimum, 120 mph. A woman with rock hard abs proudly on display ran with the perfect form of an antelope.
My mind finally convinced me to stop early. "Doomed," I texted my husband.
"Exhausted," he sent me back.
I returned home defeated. When he called I cried as I recounted the run that beat me. "You've already done all the work. It's done," he assured me.
Even with all the aches and heavy legs, the real reason I stopped was 100% mental. Going into this week, I am going to try and dope up as much as possible with positivity. The work is already done.
My body knows I can run this race; I just need to convince my mind it's possible.
I think we ALL go through this before a race. Especially when we have trained so hard and want so badly to do well! You WILL get through this, you WILL do great! Let me know if you have any questions! I am always happy to answer the best I can!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sara! I appreciate the support!
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