So I am on the way to my race. Well, I am on my way to San Francisco, not heading to the starting line just yet. Buuuuut it’s approaching go time.
Over the last few days people keep asking me the million-dollar question.
“Are you ready?”
Good bloody question, people.
Have I trained? Yes! Lots.
Can I run 13.1 miles? I think so.
Did I raise money? Absolutely! (And I’m not done. You can still donate: How about I’ll trade you 13.1 miles for $13.10, deal?)
Am I nervous? Kinda undecided. I’m not. But sometimes I am.
The thing is, I know I can do it…
… iiiiiiiiiiiif I have a good run. Major factor.
90% of the time I feel confident that it will be impossible for me to not have a great run. I mean its my first bloody race. How can I not be bouncing off the walls hills?
The remaining 10% of the time I am absolutely terrified that I’ll get there, rocket from the finish line and have a really really bad run. And its not having a bad run that worries me — I’ve had bad runs before; I can manage them — it’s realizing its a bad run early on, knowing I have to continue it for another 10+ miles and hating it.
Because one thing I haven’t figured out yet is how to turn a bad run into a good run — or even a mediocre run for that matter. And I’m already contemplating where to run my next one so I can’t hate half-marathons just yet.
My bad runs usually stem from a combination of lack of/poor choice of fuel at any point in the previous 12 hours and annoying weather.
There isn’t much I can do other than prepare for the best run of my life:
- I’m doing my best to eat a 60% healthy-carb diet and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
- I’ve got a range of clothes to choose from to be ready for all types of weather.
- I’m staying positive.
- My fingers are crossed
What else can I do? Either way, this is going to be my longest run and second biggest physical accomplishment to date.
All along I’ve just taken my training in stride without much thought to the immensity of what I’m about to do.
Every long run was a small step closer to a goal that was becoming increasingly less intimidating and closer to my reach. At this point, it just feels like another Saturday morning run — not a big accomplishment of any sorts.
But at some point last night when I was packing I realized something:
I AM ABOUT TO RUN A HALF-MARATHON!
ME!
LIZ!
For a few minutes, I saw this goal from the same perspective I had seen it months ago — like something a crazy person would do — and now I am doing it. WTF?
So here goes nothing Bs&Gs. Wish me luck! (and donate $13.10…!)
Oh, and just in case I’m not prepared and my run turns bad, I have a back-up plan. If I’m out there in horrendous pain, wanting to crawl off the side of the road into a ditch, I am going to channel both my competitive and stubborn traits at the same time. I have a friend I met recently who ran a half-marathon without any training whatsoever in response to a bet. If he could do it without collapsing, you can bet your sweet arse I’m sure as hell going to.
See, I knew my stubbornness would come in handy one day!
You can do it! Lay off the cupcakes till the race is over and you’ll be fine. Once the you’re done, dig in.
good luck!
I can not WAIT for celebratory cupcakes! Lol
If at ANY point you start to get down during the race, think of why you’re doing it. That cannot fail to get your legs moving
And if all else fails do what I do – crank your music up a little louder, clear your mind and pretend to be some kind of animal that can run forever!
LOVE IT!!! I read a great article that talked about that. I’ll find it and send it. I imagine myself as one of those robots from I, Robot. It works. Usually.
Thanks Jules! Cannot wait to come run something near u. I actually think I dreamed about doing that last night!
[...] I did it. I ran 13.1 miles of up and down the San Francisco hills alongside 22,000 other [crazy] women and 2,000 men. [...]