Oh what have I gotten myself into....

wennim

I am running a half marathon on Saturday. I have done the distance so I know I can do it but I am worried that I will come in last of everyone. This is a small school fundraiser and they only get around 100 participants so there isn't that many. The half marathon relay in august was supposed to be my first official run but then this one was kind of forced on me and well I just can't tell people no. 13.1 miles is a far cry from the 6.5 miles I was planning on a month from now.

The scale hasn't been moving and I am getting seriously frustrated so I have been focusing more on what I can do. I am still watching what I eat and staying under daily goals 95% of the time. I alternate bike rides and running. The pace I got the last time I ran the half marathon distance is actually not too bad for my age group. I keep telling myself that I just need to focus on finishing and accomplishing that goal but I get sidetracked on the fear. I had a nightmare the other night where I was just running in place and no matter how fast or hard I ran I could not move. I just need to get past Saturday and then the next run will be a walk in the park since it is much shorter. I am also signed up for a 5K and a 6 mile leg of my husband's work team for a marathon in September besides the half marathon relay in August. I can't believe how far I have come from the time just a few months ago when i could barely make it a half mile.

KnitOrMiss

That's such good news, Wendy, but I think we get stifled by the potential for greatness sometimes.

That being said, look at it this way, even if you come in last, you beat everyone who didn't finish, everyone who didn't race at all, and all the rest of us lazy folks sitting at home on our boo-tays! The means, you beat like 5 million people or something. There, now doesn't that make you feel better?

Besides, if it is for a good cause, who cares who wins?? I know you're challenging yourself and all that, but if you're that competitive, then figure out how to kick it up a notch. Plus, remember that someone has to come in last no matter what. Would it make you feel better to keep someone else from having to live that moment?

It's all about perspective.

And so ALL of THAT being said, the fact that you signed up, trained (which by the way gives you a HUGE amount of water retention while training, breaking down, and rebuilding your muscles more), prepared, AND have every intention of showing up to run - think of all the things the old OLD you wouldn't have done.

Sending you good thoughts, Miss Wendy.

maoribadger

You will surprise yourself I can assure you of that. I expected to come last at Superhuman and not only didnt i but i realised that if i had i wouldnt have cared because Id had the balls to actually get up and do it.

carimiller7391

Go Wendy Go Wendy GO!!!!!

Just like Carly said, think of where you started and where you are now.

wennim

Well I did manage to finish the run. Had some awful leg cramps around mile 9 and had to walk more than I had hoped. It was a really small race that wasn't managed well at all.

The water stations were almost all out of water. There were 77 people running and I came in 71. Five people dropped out at various points so I came in 2nd to last...but I finished. I did get passed by an 80 year old woman but to be fair she was in a wheel chair being pushed by a 20 year old guy.

I was upset by my time and coming in so low so I checked my time against several of the finishing times for some of the bigger half marathons in the area. For my age group it was actually in the middle of the finishers. So I am blaming my low placement on a poor sampling since if it was one of the bigger races with 1000+ runners I might not have been one of the last. I'm not going to let it stop me from running in another race.

carimiller7391

Wendy, you did awesome!!!! You did the race, you didn't drop out. You ROCK!! in my book at least.

KnitOrMiss

Wendy, I'm so glad you went in for the perspective of a larger sampling. And yes, poor management of the race likely contributed to your personal situation both in physicality and in placement... At least its a notch in your belt and you can move on... Plus, YOU FINISHED! How awesome is that?

maoribadger

You didnt finish 2nd to last at all as I see it. If 5 people dropped out you came above all of them as well