How is this race only one week away?! I don’t know where the last few weeks have gone. The first 12 weeks seemed to drag (probably because it felt like the winter would never end) and now time is passing too quickly!
Week of 3/30-4/5:
Sunday 3/30: Quick Strength for Runners Week 8 (Part 1)
Monday 3/31: 9 miles with 2 x 2 miles at HMP (8:45 pace overall), PM-Body Pump
Tuesday 4/1: 5 miles easy (9:58 pace), Quick Strength for Runners Week 8 (Part 2), PM: 30 mins yoga
Wednesday 4/2: Rest
Thursday 4/3: 6.12 miles with 4 at MPG (9:01 pace overall), core work
Friday 4/4: Rest, 45 minutes yoga
Saturday 4/5: 8 miles (8:28 pace), core work
Total: 28.12 miles
This week I have been pretty good about listening to my body and not overdoing it. I know that at this point it is more important to feel recovered than to squeeze in X number of miles. I have strayed pretty far from the training plan, between last week when I took 5 days off and this week (the plan had me running 34 miles). I switched things up because on Friday I felt like I needed a rest day. Also, the plan had been doing an 8 mile workout next Tuesday (400s), and this week it only had me running 4 miles on Saturday. I knew I didn’t want to do speed work 6 days before the race (even though the 800s were only at 7:45 pace, but still). So I did 8 on Saturday and next week will all be 3-4 mile runs. (Sorry if that paragraph was confusing- my point is that I am trying to focus on what will work for me and following a less-is-better approach).
Earlier today I posted my running plan for the next 7 days on Instagram:
The way things have been going lately, it may not look like this at all. This is the most I will run…I may run less if I feel I need to cut back.
I am going to talk a little about how I am feeling about the race at this point. My feelings may change as the week goes on, and I hope to be able to check in with a few posts throughout the week. I am thinking with less training I might have a little more time to blog.
I have felt so supported by the blogging community throughout this training cycle. I have felt a connection with so many other runners trying to train through this intense, never-ending winter while walking that fine line between training enough/overtraining/injury. I know that I should be ready for this race. If you look back on my weekly training recaps, I have put in the work and the times are there. But for some reason, I am still lacking confidence.
I am so anxious about this race, which is not too unusual for me, but this time its a little different. There is self-doubt and worry that I can usually talk myself out of. I think there are a few things going on that may be leading to this. For one, I I have openly shared my goals with the world. My blog is all about my training, and its all I talk about in “real life” too. Everyone is going to ask about the race, and I’ll be reporting back on the blog with how I did. That’s a lot of pressure!
I also feel like ever since my knee started bothering me, I have felt like I was on the borderline of injury. Not like a diagnosed specific injury, but more of a “my whole left leg is tighter than my right and feels off” type of thing. I know that the best thing for this is rest, stretching, and foam rolling. Hopefully this cutting back will help things to feel great on race day, but my crazy anxious brain is like “what if it feels terrible or worse the whole race?!”
I also feel like every time I run its a test of how my body is progressing towards being ready for the race. This week, I had a couple of great runs, and a couple of really bad runs. Those bad runs have stuck with me and made it hard to feel positive about the race.
I wanted to openly share my feelings leading up to the race, but I am working on getting into a more positive mindset. I know what I would tell someone else who was having these thoughts- so I am trying to tell myself those things. As far as my physical ability to run the marathon, I know I can do it. My chiropractor said he will tape my leg anywhere that is feeling off later this week and he promised it would make me run more efficiently than ever- whether or not that is true I need all the positivity I can get at this point so I am trying to believe him!
I have 7 days to recover, rest, stay hydrated and properly fueled, prep for race day…. and turn this pre-race anxiety into confidence.
How do you overcome self-doubt leading up to a race?
I definitely understand where you are coming from. Anxiety can get the best of us all at times. I know that you will do great. Sometimes we cannot see that in ourselves. You know so much and you are so smart to trust your body right now. The marathon will be amazing. You will be amazing!
Thank you so much for your kind words:) You are always so supportive and I really appreciate it!!
You’ll do great! I’ve never run a marathon before, but I always get anxiety before any big event. I tell myself to trust in the work that I’ve done. Even if I don’t “feel ready” I usually am. Good luck!
Thank you! Races sure can be stressful, right? Like you said, you just need to trust the training!
Oh, I’m so sorry that you’re feeling anxiety. Unfortunately, I’ve been there, and I completely relate. It’s impossible to know whether you’re overthinking things or your body is truly burned out, and like you say, the best bet now is rest. What I do know is that on race day, you are going to give the absolute best that you have on that day, and you’re going to be amazing! I’m excited for you, and wish I could do something to calm you down between now and then!
As a random side note, my Feedly just repopulated all of your last 10 posts, which I definitely have already read. And then I got a security notice when I tried to come to the site. Did you change something up?
Thank you, Megan! Hopefully I can relax a little and just do my best on Sunday.
I’m not sure what could have been going on with my blog. I haven’t changed anything recently. I’ll check around a little tonight to see if there is anything going on, but I am not very savvy with that stuff. Let me know if you continue to have issues!
There is only one way to truly conquer race anxiety – run the race! 🙂
But seriously, you have to step back from yourself and think – no one workout will make or break you, you have had an AMAZING training cycle, I have loved following along, and I am totally confident in your ability to make this happen! You’re going to rock!
Thanks so much! And yes I think I just need the race to get here so I can stop worrying about it!
I just signed up for the Hyannis coaching course this past wed too! So excited about it and we are also making it a long weekend. Hope your marathon went well! I currently have major pre race anxiety about Boston in a week and I’m already packing out of nerves 🙂
I signed up for the Hyannis course too this past wed! So excited about it and also making it a long weekend. I’m having major prerace anxiety about Boston next week, already packing out of nerves. Hope your marathon went well today 🙂
Looking forward to meeting you at the training! And good luck at Boston!!