For years I've done this.
It dates back to high school. I got roped into running cross country my sophomore year. The day we had our first meet was a trial meet against our own teammates. That morning, I was so nervous, I cried. Not kidding.
Over the next three years, I started getting nervous for Saturday meets on Tuesday. By the time Friday rolled around, I was a wreck. I didn't have a good race to finish off my last year at the State meet. Looking back, I think I was so nervous about working hard and lacked confidence that I didn't even try my hardest.
So I ran throughout college to stay in shape, but didn't sign up for a race again until my junior year when I signed up for the mini marathon and didn't even really train for it. I ran 6 miles as my longest training run. I made a goal half way through the race and got a little competitive.
Then I ran that race again year after year and decided I wanted to run a marathon, and then I decided I wanted to start running faster. Because it felt good.
I've ran 11 marathons now. Of those 11, I've raced 5 and of those 5, I was a nervous wreck for 4 of them. The only one I wasn't nervous about was my most recent, Rehoboth Beach. I wasn't nervous because I wasn't trying to PR. I was trying to run controlled and smart.
Tomorrow, I'm supposed to run 14 miles, with 7 at race pace. Holy shit, is race pace really 7:26 per mile? I know I can do it, but really, for 26.2 miles, to me 7:26 seems fast.
Then I looked at Glenn's race pace, 6:17. What does that even mean? Is this the same line cook that I met at the Village Deli 8 years ago, who was 30 pounds overweight and liked to get his college on? By "get his college on", I mean party, eat massive amounts of taco bell and not run. Is this the same Glenn that ran a 3:49 for his first 26.2?
Here's why he has improved so much. He has confidence like none other. And he most certainly does not RUN SCARED.
I never really make "New Years Resolutions", or as a lot of healthy living bloggers say "goals" for the new year- really people, it's the same thing said in a different way. My life goal, not my 2013 goal is to run confidently. I want to get a little cocky. See that's how he does it. He works hard and then he believes he can do it. So, why can't I.
No more running scared. I vow to run with confidence and strength, while believing in myself.
Now, even as I type this and try to be cocky about it, I'm still nervous about that 7:26. Someone quick, come get myself out of my own head and tell me to just run STRONG.
How do you overcome the doubt? How do you to run with confidence?
I feel the same way you do! All throughout college cross country and track, I got so nervous. I psyched myself out, felt nauseous, and even thought about faking sick for one meet so I wouldn't have to run it. I was afraid of feeling over-exhausted and not running my best. But I finally learned that when you let it all go, it's more fun and you run how you're supposed to - how you've trained to run! Your a speedy and talented runner, keep up the awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks! When I start getting nervous, I remind myself to enjoy what I'm doing. The last 5 miles of Rehoboth Beach I was pushing, hurting and enjoying at the same time. I was smiling and happy while in pain. Doesn't sound like it makes sense, but it did! I want to start doing that more. Good Luck on your next race!!
ReplyDeleteNo expert here but....running at race pace for training, there's no pressure to PR so you should just do it and know that by doing so, you CAN run confidently during the marathon. As Glenn always says, trust your training. If you train the best you know how, you will go out there on race day knowing you did all you can and having THAT confidence under your feet :)
ReplyDeleteTHANKS! I'm sitting here right now waiting on him to get back from his run so I can do mine and everything in me just wants to stay in my sweats in my cozy house. I know the rest of the day will be happier for all parties who live here though if I buck up and go. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lindsey! It's OK to be confident and a bit cocky!! I agree with Ericka about race pace training. The more you do it, the more your body gets comfortable with it. Keep killing it!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of an old No Fear poster I have hanging up in the basement by my trainer. It says "You must always push the limits...because if you never fail, you will never succeed." I'm taking a wild guess here, but I'd suspect you're probably really hard on yourself when you set goals and don't accomplish them and that's why you get so nervous and don't even bother setting goals sometimes. Don't be afraid to fail. No one will think any less of you if you set a goal for this marathon and come up short.
ReplyDeleteI think part of running confidently is not fearing or stressing over a bad workout/race. Yes, you need to believe in yourself, but you also have to have a short memory when it comes to bad days. It doesn't mean anything if a workout or race is a bust. It just wasn't your day. Move on and try again.
Good luck.
Nice post. Racing in hs was nerve-wracking for me as well. Funny how things change as we get older.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice guys- I ended up doing 10 of the 14 faster than race pace and although I didn't stick to what was planned, I think it ended up being important for my confidence. It's weird how I was scared I wouldn't be able to keep the race pace and it turned out, it would have actually felt pretty comfortable. Race pace 7:26 and my average pace for the run ended up being 7:18, with 3 miles of warm up/cool down in. It felt really good to push.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome, honest post Lindsey! I went through exactly the same thing post HS CC, and didn't do a race until later in college. I can still remember how I would practically make myself sick the night before a race thinking about how much it was going to hurt! I now try to mind trick myself and say that time doesn't matter (which is a big fat lie!), just so I don't freak out. I'm running a half in March and it will be the first big goal I've set since having kids, and I'm already getting worked up. So silly! Thank you very much for the reminder to stay the confident course! And good luck with the training!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashley! Good luck with your half in March- is your husband running too? Run confidently, you will kill it!! :)
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