A Race to the Finish Line
Or in my case, a fun run where you cross the finish line feeling proud of what you've done. Hopefully.
Remember that race I wrote about a few months ago? The one I wasn’t sure I was going to do because I signed up to run with a friend, but then said friend did not get in, but I decided to do it anyway? It’s Sunday.
I’ve spent the last 9 weeks training and preparing for the 10-mile Broad Street Run. I’ve run more than 131 miles – long runs, intervals, shake out runs, you name it. I’ve experienced those runner highs where the music, the weather and your body feel in sync. And I’ve had those runs where your legs and brain feel disconnected, and every step is a slog. On many occasions, I have run when I do not, in fact, want to run. But one thing about me is that if I sign up for something, I will show up for it. And not just half-ass show up. I follow a training program and commit to it. On race day, I can always confidently tell myself that I prepared for this.
But the tricky thing about races – and, for that matter, life in general – is that it doesn’t matter how well you train or how meticulously you plan. Some things are out of your control. Like the weather (it’s supposed to rain). Or how you feel that day (TBD on that). Or how you can psych yourself out of something before you even begin.
For each of my training runs, even the 9-miler that sucked, I have consistently run a sub 9-minute mile pace with negative splits (meaning each mile gets a little faster). Yet here I am already justifying in my head why I might not do that in the race. I’m already finding ways to guard against the disappointment of not coming in under 1 hour and 30 minutes. I’ve already begun to craft the narrative against myself. What if I don’t hit my goal time? What if it rains? What if I go out too hard? What if, what if, what if.
When I truly think about it, it’s so silly. I’m setting myself for failure but also knowing I will likely succeed. It makes no sense. It also makes me wonder what if I changed that narrative just a little bit.
What if I believed in myself, pushed myself, just a little bit more? What if I go out and nail it? What if I have so much fun running the race? What if I feel so proud of myself to have trained this hard for something without knowing exactly how it turned out? What if I celebrated what I’ve accomplished? (That last one was for you, too.)
I can’t predict what will happen Sunday, but I can control – or at least try to control – what I think going into the race and what I say to myself during it. A lot of distance runners have mantras to motivate them on long runs or to help push through when things get tough. My mantra this time? Do you.
See you at the finish line!
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This week, some things that got me through this training cycle. And runner or not, they’re good finds.
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Drink Tablets, $22.47 for 4 tubes (40 servings), amazon.com
I have never been a huge Gatorade or sports drink fan, but I also know sometimes water isn’t enough. Enter Nuun. I started using them during my first triathlon nearly two decades (!!!) ago and haven’t looked back. There are a million flavors to pick from, but I always love the fruit punch and strawberry lemonade. Drop a tablet in your water and let it dissolve. They make the water sweet but not too sweet. If you’re one of those weird people who doesn’t like drinking water, this is a game changer.
I am apt to go down rabbit holes online (shocking I know). It was during one of those rabbit holes where I was looking at different runners and fitness influencers when I found Emily Abbate, host of the Hurdle Podcast. She is motivating, kind, honest, authentic and one of the best people to have in your ear on long runs or simply walking around the grocery store. She interviews people all over the wellness spectrum, from Peloton instructors to Ironman World Champions to the CEO of Oura. At the very least, she is worth a follow on IG. Her posts on running — the good, the bad, the setbacks — have consistently been a huge boost during training.
Saucony Women’s Triumph Sneaker, $129.95, amazon.com
I am slightly ashamed to admit that I have been a one-sneaker girl for most of my running career. That means, I have one pair of running sneakers and use them for every single run. If you are a runner, you know this is not what you should do. Now I am a two-sneaker runner. I used these Sauconys for my weekly interval runs and totally loved how light they were on my feet. And yes, I will be investing in more sneakers going forward.
Lululemon Big Mat, $124, shoplululemon.com and Trigger Point Foam Roller, $29.97, amazon.com
One of the things about getting older is that I can no longer just “go on a run.” I have to warm up and I have to stretch after. Sometimes those things take longer than the run itself. But they are non-negotiables to make sure I can run (or move) the next day. The lululemon yoga mat and Trigger Point foam roller are key in both of those things. I’ve actually started to foam roll as part of my warm up and it is a game changer. And yes, the foam roller is a little painful at first, but you will get used to it. I promise the release on the other side is oh-so worth it.
Cheering you on from afar!