3rd Half Jitters
skingszoo
Posts: 412 Member
Hey guys! So my 3rd half is Sunday and I am scared to death, to the point of panic attacks. WTH is wrong with me?!?! It's not like I don't know whats going on.
Back story I ran my 1st half Sept 2011 with umm like no training and the longest I had ran was 8 miles once before the race. It was terrible, I cried, cussed, cramped it was awful! I finished 2:56:17 which my goal was 3 hours. I was then terrified to ever run that far again but decided I was going to attempt another half to get over my fear last year. I ran this SAME race that I am running this year last year and finished in 2:15:37! PR'd by 40 minutes and felt amazing! My goal was 2:30 but I got into a groove and stuck with a couple ladies at 10mm pace for the first 10 miles. I couldn't believe it!
This year, I am better trained than I was last year and ran a 11 mile last week and 14 mile a couple weeks ago. I KNOW I can do the distance but I think I am scared my time is going to be worse than last year since I was shocked I did so good. I think I am getting focused on what my pace was last year and what my pace has been during my training runs (which is slower). But I do take my dog on my long runs and he is a 1.5yo German Shorthair Pointer that has ADD so we get distracted ALOT. My goal was to finish sub 2hr but I am not sure if I can do a 9mm for 13 miles. I know this is mental, any tips besides chanting that I CAN DO IT! Im going to run today, on the treadmill and Ill see what 9mm feels like and see if I can push myself. I think I can! I just don't want to be disappointed when I cant during the race. Makes me wonder how I'm going to pull off my Full in Sept if I'm such a nervous Nelly now. :P
Back story I ran my 1st half Sept 2011 with umm like no training and the longest I had ran was 8 miles once before the race. It was terrible, I cried, cussed, cramped it was awful! I finished 2:56:17 which my goal was 3 hours. I was then terrified to ever run that far again but decided I was going to attempt another half to get over my fear last year. I ran this SAME race that I am running this year last year and finished in 2:15:37! PR'd by 40 minutes and felt amazing! My goal was 2:30 but I got into a groove and stuck with a couple ladies at 10mm pace for the first 10 miles. I couldn't believe it!
This year, I am better trained than I was last year and ran a 11 mile last week and 14 mile a couple weeks ago. I KNOW I can do the distance but I think I am scared my time is going to be worse than last year since I was shocked I did so good. I think I am getting focused on what my pace was last year and what my pace has been during my training runs (which is slower). But I do take my dog on my long runs and he is a 1.5yo German Shorthair Pointer that has ADD so we get distracted ALOT. My goal was to finish sub 2hr but I am not sure if I can do a 9mm for 13 miles. I know this is mental, any tips besides chanting that I CAN DO IT! Im going to run today, on the treadmill and Ill see what 9mm feels like and see if I can push myself. I think I can! I just don't want to be disappointed when I cant during the race. Makes me wonder how I'm going to pull off my Full in Sept if I'm such a nervous Nelly now. :P
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Replies
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Hey guys! So my 3rd half is Sunday and I am scared to death, to the point of panic attacks. WTH is wrong with me?!?! It's not like I don't know whats going on.
I get jitters before EVERY race running and cycling. I never feel like I trained enough. Just keep training and focus on your goal.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!0 -
Hey, I had the same thing happen to me. Ran a half in 2011 and ran again in 2013 and improved my PR by almost 45min. The second time you just "know" you're going to do better, but yeah, the third you just gotta have faith in your training and that you have nothing that could hold you back.
Sometimes you just gotta nut up and run
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For clarification, do you mean "grow a pair" or "accept that you are a lunatic"?
Either seems to apply in this scenario.0 -
For clarification, do you mean "grow a pair" or "accept that you are a lunatic"?
Either seems to apply in this scenario.
Hmm... both 0 -
How has your training gone? Obviously you can do the distance. Is it a new course, or one you've done before? Have you set this race as a PR goal? Some nervousness is normal, and probably a sign that you've taking your training serious enough. I enjoy hitting courses I've done before, they're perfect progress measuring sticks. Now go run like you've stolen something.0
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In all seriousness, from what I can see, this is part of the taper. Every single distance runner has a full blown panic attack about 10 days out and then has an amazing race.
So...enjoy it. Throw something. Eat ice cream. Quit running forever until the race. Embrace the drama.0 -
Being nervous is normal, but you'll be fine! I ran my second Half at a good time for me, before my third I was ill and I didn't get in as much training as I wanted. But because I had all the extra mileage under my belt from the previous attempts and training (the same as you) and I had a much better understanding of when I needed to fuel and drink based on the previous races, I knocked several minutes off my time and was thrilled. I bet you'll find something similar... you have run more and you understand a half marathon better than your last race. Go in with confidence, you will most likely PR if you put yourself to it on the day. Under 2 is a big jump but you've put in some good training.0
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One thing I have found is that when I am well-trained for a half, it is simply amazing to me that I can sustain the HM pace as long as I can. I feel like I'm working hard every mile of the race, but somehow I manage to keep it up. It doesn't seem like it should be possible!
You have put in the training miles, you should be good to go. In the week preceding the race, just make sure to throw in a mile every once in a while at your goal HM pace, to help you "lock in" to that pace. Once you get accustomed to running that pace, you will be astonished at how long you can maintain it!0 -
I just had a similar experience - went from a half marathon of 3 hours to 2:30 to 2:15 and was really hoping to hit a sub-2 hour goal. I think this is the first race I had trained so much for and really wanted a goal, thus the extra nerves. I missed my goal (by two minutes, gah!), but was able to relax and realize there will be more races. Good luck!0
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LOL thanks guys you made me laugh and chill out! I think it is because this is the first time I've "trained" for a race. Last year I did some but I also did it to just prove I could finish one again. This one I have put in time and effort (although I still think I could have done more). The kicker is the race starts no joke 2 miles from my house and the course is the same course I run on my training runs. Why am I worried?!?! lol I know I have it in me I just have to stay focused. I know I wont get a sub 2 but I would like to shave a couple minutes off my PR. We will see.0
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Truth!For clarification, do you mean "grow a pair" or "accept that you are a lunatic"?
Either seems to apply in this scenario.
Hmm... both0 -
LOL thanks guys you made me laugh and chill out! I think it is because this is the first time I've "trained" for a race. Last year I did some but I also did it to just prove I could finish one again. This one I have put in time and effort (although I still think I could have done more). The kicker is the race starts no joke 2 miles from my house and the course is the same course I run on my training runs. Why am I worried?!?! lol I know I have it in me I just have to stay focused. I know I wont get a sub 2 but I would like to shave a couple minutes off my PR. We will see.
Sigh. Distance runners. Yes, you could have done more. Always more. Now tell me all about how slow you are...0 -
One thing I have found is that when I am well-trained for a half, it is simply amazing to me that I can sustain the HM pace as long as I can. I feel like I'm working hard every mile of the race, but somehow I manage to keep it up. It doesn't seem like it should be possible!
Lol.. These are exactly my thoughts. There have been times during a race where I'm thinking "it's not even possible that I'm running this pace right now".. Sometimes I've finished a race and blurted out "what just happened?" Sometimes I'm almost confused by the results... As if somehow it doesn't "add up"... Just do your thing & trust your training. You will PR if you've been training hard. And if you don't, who cares? I've ran a 1:33 half and I can tell you this-- you will NOT pr everytime. It's a bummer, but you have to be happy with the effort you put out on race day, it's a lifestyle. The world doesn't end if you don't PR... I've definately taken 10 steps back before taking steps forward, and that is part of the process... You have to be okay with failing.
That being said, you will likely PR! I'm rooting for you.
I've ran 5 fulls and I still get nervous for a week before ANY race (yes, even 5ks)!0 -
Sigh. Distance runners. Yes, you could have done more. Always more. Now tell me all about how slow you are...
lol I AM slow
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This was how I felt last race. I had it planned out and told my husband around the time I would be at the meeting spot half way and when I came through 15 min early he says "omg your way ahead good thing I was early" I said "I KNOW!!!!! I cant stop"Lol.. These are exactly my thoughts. There have been times during a race where I'm thinking "it's not even possible that I'm running this pace right now".. Sometimes I've finished a race and blurted out "what just happened?" Sometimes I'm almost confused by the results... As if somehow it doesn't "add up"...0 -
I'm still working on my first half so don't know what your going through but I'd like to wish your all the best for your third half, I bet you'll get a p.r. come back and let us know how you get on.0
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Thank you! Good luck with your training. Only advice I can give is during your first race the only goal should be to finish and survive lol I thought I was going to literally die, but I didn't and won't because really its "only" 13 miles :P I even called my husband at mile 9 bawling that I was dieing and lost and there was no way I was going to make it back lol He told me to shut up, get off my phone and run.I'm still working on my first half so don't know what your going through but I'd like to wish your all the best for your third half, I bet you'll get a p.r. come back and let us know how you get on.0
