confidence

Whether you are training for the marathon or hoping to finish an upcoming 5k, I believe there is an important factor that you won't read about in the training schedules.  Most of them help get your body ready to physically ready to run, but they don't really address the mental aspect much. 

So here's my opinion.  Running should be fun, but it also usually lends itself to goal-setting.  Whether that means winning, setting a P.R., or getting to the finish line of a race, we usually set out on runs with an objective in mind.

That's led to a bit of introspection on my part.  I've been running since I was in the 8th grade.  That's about (hmmm... a lot of) years now.  I have run plenty of competitive races over the years.  There are ten or so marathons sprinkled in among them.  So you would think I would have plenty of confidence at this point right?  Well, I'm guessing you know the answer coming.  No.  I have just as much anxiety about upcoming races now as I used to before those 800 meter track races in high school.  I think any time you put alot of heart and effort into something, and then lay it on the line on race day, anxiety is natural.  That is just as natural if you are trying to finish the race, or competing to break the tape at finish line.

When I was in college, before the current marathon boom, one of my coaches mentioned that "anyone can finish a marathon.  It's just a matter of how quickly they finish".  I firmly believe that's true.  In fact, the first marathon I finished, was a year after graduating from college.  I literally entered the night before on a lark. I planned to run it with a friend who had been training.  Not only had I not trained for it, but I had hardly run much at all for months before.  I had youth and naivete on my side.  We got about half way through the race, and my friend decided she'd had enough, and dropped out.  That left me to finish on my own.  I did, and while I honestly don't remember even the first number of the time, I'm sure it was not fast. 

The reason I tell that story, is because that race stands out in my mind as the only one I can recall that I had absolutely no anxiety about.  That's because I had absolutely no expectations, and had laid nothing on the line in terms of preparation.  I had never eve thought about running a marathon.  I'm really more suited to middle distance running.  What I did have though, was confidence that I could finish regardless.  Those words from my coach about the marathon stuck with me.  So something that started out as an impulsive idea turned out to be a great time, and a really nice memory for me.  I can't say the same about many of the other races I've done over the years that I spent much more time preparing for.

At this point in marathon training, many of us are starting to feel some of that anxiety.  We feel every little twinge during our training and worry it's an injury.  We struggle during our long run and think, how am I going to manage an even longer run on race day, at a faster pace?   

I struggle with those same thoughts and self-doubts, even after all these years.  And I don't claim to have the answers.  But I do believe confidence is a key.  Everyone can run a marathon, or any other race for that matter.  It's just a matter of how quickly you get to the finish line.  Here's hoping you don't let the anxiety get the better of you.  Have confidence that you will get there, and you'll enjoy the journey much more!

See you out on the trails!

Comments

[TX Runner Girl]

Great post! Best of luck with the marathon!