Race Nerves :/
MSeel1984
Posts: 2,297 Member
So my first ever race (a half marathon) is tomorrow morning...I'm such a nervous wreck. I am worried I'll get lost or won't find where I'm supposed to be...I'll be late...that my stomach will get upset and I'll have to run to the bathroom right before the start.
Most of these fears are unfounded. I have my race outfit all set out...my bag with all of my clean clothes, toiletries/towel etc to get cleaned up after...I have my race bib already, I've been to the place where we'll park so I know where that is...
The stomach issues are a legitimate fear...but I should be there plenty early to go to the bathroom if need be.
Ugh...any recommendations for settling my nerves before the big day? I'm so excited-but also terrified.
Most of these fears are unfounded. I have my race outfit all set out...my bag with all of my clean clothes, toiletries/towel etc to get cleaned up after...I have my race bib already, I've been to the place where we'll park so I know where that is...
The stomach issues are a legitimate fear...but I should be there plenty early to go to the bathroom if need be.
Ugh...any recommendations for settling my nerves before the big day? I'm so excited-but also terrified.
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Replies
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Welcome to the world of racing!
All I can suggest is trust in your training and avoid anything new (food or gear). I've been racing for 6 or 7 years now (4 or 5 races per year) and still get the pre-race jitters. It's perfectly natural.
As this is your first race try to relax and focus on having an enjoyable experience, don't go out too fast (one of the beauties of HM distances is that you can go at an easy pace for the first few km to really warm up well) and don't worry about your finishing time (yet - that's for future races if you get bit by the bug)
Have fun!
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It's perfectly natural - we all get nervous before a race. You've done all the right things by making sure you know where to park and what to wear. Don't do anything on race day that you haven't done in training - so eat whatever breakfast you have found works best for you, and use whatever in-race boosts you've tried out.
There will be plenty of volunteers and marshalls around should you need help with anything on the day.
Enjoy it!0 -
Good luck to you on your race! I've only done 5ks so far and I can remember being really nervous the first time too. It sounds like you are really organized though. I always end up getting there early enough that I end up using the bathroom a couple of times. My only other pieces of advice are to start at a point where you are likely to be with people who run similar times (that way you don't block a bunch of faster runners) and not to go full out at first. The latter is easy to mess up on because they'll start the race and a lot of people will be off like a shot. So just watch your pace
And good luck, again!0 -
What I would do is have three possible scenarios:
1) Good race: completing without dying
2) Great race: completing within a certain time / percentage of the field
3) Perfect race: immaculate execution, PB etc
If you look at it through that filter then the nerves calm. Nerves are really an unconscious fear that that you will not meet an expectation that you haven't verbalised in many cases - fear of failure.
If you verbalise in this way you realise that, barring an absolute disaster, you will have a tremendous day.0 -
woohoo first half...good for you...your going to be nervous its natural...but your already doing a lot to mitigate that....i would reccomend getting up early to give yourself time to "do your business"...a cup a coffee if need be to get things moving.
Ive worried about the lost thing too..my local races are in rural areas..all the fields look the same...but typically most courses try to be as direct as possible without to many twists and turns...and as long as you have eyes on someone..(even if they are just a spec) then your headed the right way.
if youve been training then start the race as if this is just another run...till you cross the start..then its game on.
anyway good luck to you and have fun!!0 -
Agreed with all of the advice above. My biggest struggle is always the bathroom. I get up super, super early, drink a pot of coffee and I still seem to be racing out of the port-a potty as the gun is going off. It makes the race so much more exciting…It's like two races in one.
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I always get there, go to the bathroom, start thinking that I feel too thirsty, drink water, go to the bathroom again, repeat once or twice more.0
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Agreed with all of the advice above. My biggest struggle is always the bathroom. I get up super, super early, drink a pot of coffee and I still seem to be racing out of the port-a potty as the gun is going off. It makes the race so much more exciting…It's like two races in one.
haha..two races0 -
Remember that you are not competing against anyone; you're just there to do your best. I would recommend that you avoid anything high fiber the day before. Don't drink too much the morning of the race, there will be lots of water stations on the route. Do your normal run routine and enjoy the high of running with a group of like-minded people. Have a great race!0
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Good luck on your first half!! Great accomplishment! (I've only done 5ks and sprint triathlons) My biggest problem comes with sleep the night before b/c all of my nerves build and I dream of all the things you mentioned happening. Just try to relax and know you'll be fine. You are prepared!!0
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Agreed with all of the advice above. My biggest struggle is always the bathroom. I get up super, super early, drink a pot of coffee and I still seem to be racing out of the port-a potty as the gun is going off. It makes the race so much more exciting…It's like two races in one.
This made me giggle! To the OP, good luck to you! I recently signed up for my first 5k to take place in January, so I'm very interested in some of the advice offered in this thread. I'm sure once you get there, you'll be just fine!0 -
Welcome to the world of competitive toilet run's!!! lol
Races are the only places I have ever seen men have to queue for the toilet!
5'ks through to Ironman's and my nerves are exactly the same every time. I always end up visiting the toilet a couple of times, I always forget to bring something from the car with me and have to rush back for it, and then I go to the loo again for good measure.
Good luck.0 -
Welcome to the world of competitive toilet run's!!! lol
Races are the only places I have ever seen men have to queue for the toilet!
5'ks through to Ironman's and my nerves are exactly the same every time. I always end up visiting the toilet a couple of times, I always forget to bring something from the car with me and have to rush back for it, and then I go to the loo again for good measure.
Good luck.
lol toilet run...soon to replace the color run as the next "in" thing.
i always forget something to...only to get goingand think i didnt need half this crap anyway
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Ahh yes... the inevitable portopotty line.
Pre-race nerves... I get them for everything... from 5ks to full Ironman... doesn't matter, happens every time. I am running a marathon on Sunday and I have been a mental disaster all week.
As for pre-long-race... Early wakeup, cup of strong coffee to "get things started" and a big carby muffin. Get there early... get in line... get it all out... all of it... make sure... Then maybe get back in line and try again...0 -
two of my friends are running the JFK tomorrow..and its all ive been hearing about..i need to do this,,what if this happens,,what about the weather....just run already LOL0
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Isn't cool?! And you'll still run and finish and be left wondering what all the fuss was about the night before.0
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Couldn't agree more. It's a running joke amongst my running friends on how many times I will visit the portapotty before the race.Agreed with all of the advice above. My biggest struggle is always the bathroom. I get up super, super early, drink a pot of coffee and I still seem to be racing out of the port-a potty as the gun is going off. It makes the race so much more exciting…It's like two races in one.
This is my strategy for that (right or wrong) - do the coffee thing, visit the loo as close to race time, then take two Immodiums. In all my races, this has only let me down once (and I think I OD'd on gels that day which will wreak havoc with the tummy).
And never, ever mess with your nutrition close to race day. If you didn't train with it, don't race with it.
As for the nerves, take some deep breaths and try to relax. Once that start gun goes off, the nerves dissolve. Enjoy!
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I also have my first HM tomorrow morning but I have done other smaller races. Right now I'm trying not to let my nerves get the best of me. I did a practice run of the full distance so I know can do it w/out stopping. I always have to go to the potty 2 or 3 times before a race. I'm like a nervous puppy I guess. I just keep telling myself that my goal is to finish and not for a certain time. I can try for a better time next year. My low blood sugar is always an issue so having enough snacks and such is always a worry. My advice to you would be, go to the bathroom as soon as you get there and as many times that you have to before the start. Also, (and this applies to me as well) just go at the same pace you practiced and don't worry about passing up the people ahead of you. You are only competing against yourself. Oh, and good luck and have fun!
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Ahh yes... the inevitable portopotty line.
Pre-race nerves... I get them for everything... from 5ks to full Ironman... doesn't matter, happens every time. I am running a marathon on Sunday and I have been a mental disaster all week.
As for pre-long-race... Early wakeup, cup of strong coffee to "get things started" and a big carby muffin. Get there early... get in line... get it all out... all of it... make sure... Then maybe get back in line and try again...
Not just me then! Infact I think the only time I have ever not had pre race nerves was a 6hour endurance run. I had barely ran longer than 10k post ironman in july and entered this 6hour ultra end of october for a laugh with a mate who does it every year knowing I would just keep walking if need be and see what happened. I went in with zero expectations thinking I should at least run to about 10 miles okay and then just walk to marathon and call it a day. I ended up PB'ing my marathon time and making it to 30 miles before the feet had had enough.0 -
And typically when I get up on a usual running day, I have my coffee and something to eat...usually I'm able to "go" within the hour...I get most of it out but sometimes feel the need to go mid run once I get out the door.
That's what I'm nervous about-but as many of you said, I have my stuff already (bib on my shirt already)...so I can go to the potty line if I need to.
It's a mixture of emotions right now-but I'd say that excitement is winning overall. I've run 12.1 miles before so this is only a little more than that-and honestly that day I probably could have kept going of my blood sugar was cooperating.
I have some carrot bread, my coffee and a hard boiled egg planned for breakfast. My fuel belt is all stocked up with what I've been using for training (Type I diabetes adds an interesting twist to all of this)...I'm psyched and wish I was at the start line!0 -
your ready then!!! go get em0
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Agreed, you're all set. good luck.0
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Sounds like you are well prepared. I did my first half with only 8 or so days notice in June. I decided to treat it as a long run and not stress out over it. Luckily they had lots of portapotties, which is my main concern. My last half (which was my second one) last month, they did NOT have enough and I spent way too much time in line for one. I thought I was going to miss the start of the race because of it, and I arrived over 1 HOUR before the race started.
Good luck tomorrow! Just enjoy-you will PR either way.0 -
Oh yeah. Lotta pressure. You gotta rise above it. You gotta harness in the good energy, block out the bad. Harness. Energy. Block. Bad. Feel the flow, OP. Feel it. It's circular. It's like a carousel. You pay the quarter, you get on the horse, it goes up and down, and AROUND. It's circular. Circle, with the music, the flow. All good things.
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Well it all went really well yesterday. I wasn't top in my age or category, but I beat my own personal best on 5k, 10k, 15k, 10 mile and my overall pace. I stuck with a pacer the whole time and that helped SO much.
Bathroom wasn't as big of an issue as I thought it would be. My blood sugar stayed pretty stable for most of the run...I'm elated. I have never had so much fun-now I'm dying to do another!0 -
Woohoo! Congrats!0
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