I really can’t believe that I am two days away from marathon #6! Four years ago this weekend was when I toed the line for my first marathon ever, the Philadelphia Marathon. Sadly, I did not blog back then so there was no documentation of my personal experience, however, my friend Alli was blogging at the time and she came with me to the race and posted about it here!
Anyway, clearly I am distracting myself from the matter at hand which is the Route 66 Marathon on Sunday. Up until yesterday I hadn’t been thinking too much about it- I don’t know if that was by choice or not, but I think it was a good thing because there was less time to feel nervous about it. I think at this point I have learned that there are so many things we can’t control about races so it’s not worth thinking too much about it.
I also think part of the reason I have been a bit more laid back is that I have had a coach to tell me exactly what to do. So instead of going back and forth in my head a million times about what to do this week, she just tells me and I listen. I started debating about what shoes to wear, and after a few minutes I just E-mailed her and she told me her recommendation. Clearly that decision should not be a source of stress but it could have gone in that direction if I let it!
These examples seem to have been the theme of my training cycle- try to keep the over-thinking to a minimum and stay focused on the basics. In a way, I never felt the same level of pressure about this training cycle/race that I did for others. When I signed up for this marathon in late July, I was feeling ready to work towards a goal and increase my mileage, but I didn’t really care so much about running a marathon. I have no idea if that even makes sense, but I really just wanted to train for a marathon. When Rob signed up for Route 66 and worked it into our travel plans for visiting family next week, it made sense for me to sign up as well. But again, I wasn’t feeling focused on the race.
I started training the first week in August. I immediately had to move my days around due to a thunderstorm in week 1, and worried that it would be a rough training cycle without having access to a treadmill. Then week 2 came along, and I was really sick. At the time I was worried it would interfere with my training, but now it feels like it was SO long ago. The effects of that cold lasted for a few more weeks, making the two races I ran around that time a little more difficult. Well, the Dreaded Druid Hills 10k would have probably been really tough either way, and I ended up doing well in the Charles St 12 although I still had a cough.
Then the training and the mileage picked up, and it wasn’t easy getting those runs in before work every day. I took a huge step back from blogging in order to allow myself the time to train and recover and get as much sleep as I could during this time. There were some great runs and some really tough runs during this time- but it all made sense for where I was in my training cycle.
For the last 3 weeks I have tapered, and enjoyed a little more time to sleep in and do other things, but this is always a tough time for me. I want to get back on my regular workout schedule and I know that even after the marathon it will be a few weeks before I can do that. However, with Thanksgiving next week (how did that happen?) I’m sure the time will fly by.
Personally, I think one of the best parts about this training cycle was being able to remove the pressure and stress from myself. This was largely in part to having a coach, and perhaps partly because I was never overly focused on a time goal for the race. We decided before I even started training that a BQ was too big of a jump at this time (#1 goal was to avoid getting injured) so I think that alone removed the pressure I would have otherwise felt. I know I certainly trained to reach my goal time, but I already achieved so many of my other goals.
The next two days will actually be the time when I do need to start focusing on the race and thinking about what I want to achieve. While it was helpful to not worry about it for the past 16 weeks, I need to be able to focus on race day and not allow myself to give up (like I tend to do). Even though I have already reached my goals in other ways, I still want this race to be a success.
Thank you all for following along over the last 16 weeks! I couldn’t imagine training for a race without blogging about it:) See you on the other side of 26.2…
How do you get mentally focused for a race?
Do you find that you typically do better in a race when you don’t put as much pressure on yourself?
Good luck this weekend and have fun!!
Thank you!
The weather looks absolutely perfect and you are VERY ready for this race! I have only good feelings about it from following your training. I think it’s great that working with a coach helped take the pressure off that we put on ourselves – something for me to think about in the future. Best of luck!!
Thanks! It’s so cold and windy here today so I am actually hoping its a little warmer tomorrow! You should definitely consider a coach if you are looking to take some of that pressure off of yourself- it made such a difference for me!
Isn’t it amazing how much you can actually love the training when you get to do it just for the sake of doing it? That is how I feel with each of my marathons. Goals or not, it is just such a magical process. My wish for you this weekend is to carry that feeling through. Get focused by enjoying the process. Not by concentrating on teh finish line, but by taking yourself through each step. Good luck, Lisa! But really, you have earned the right to run your own damn race.
Thank you- perfect words of wisdom! And I will be thinking of you along the way<3
Good luck, Lisa! I’m going to live vicariously through you on this one. My sister says they expect a cold morning, but the first year I ran this it never got above 25 degrees, with wind. So, your forecast is looking good 🙂 Have fun at the expo. I always thought it was nice one…big enough but not too big. You’ve had a wonderful training cycle and will rock this race. They typically have wonderful crowd support too. Enjoy!
The expo was nice! Like you said, not too big but lots of good stuff! It’s really cold and windy here today but it looks slightly better for tomorrow- fingers crossed!
Good luck, Lisa! You will do great!
Thanks!
So excited for you! You will do amazing! Best of luck 🙂 You have trained well and deserve an awesome race.
Thank you!:)
Have a GREAT race! 🙂 We are all rooting for you!
Thanks!!
Best of luck to you! I’m so excited for you—your training has gone so well and you are going to have a great and enjoyable race!
Thank you!
So much good luck to you! Honestly the stopping yourself from overthinking and taking the pressure off yourself is the best thing for you. Pretty much a life goal for me too!
So true!! It’s very freeing to give up some of that pressure.
Oh yeah, I forgot about how sick you were at the beginning of this training cycle! That was awful. You know what I do for race day? I make pace bracelets (I have never owned a GPS watch!) and I make the paces for my “B” goal. So if I start running better in the second half, it gives me a surge of energy. But if I were to make the paces for my “A” goal and then couldn’t nail the paces, I would get really discouraged and do much worse. Good luck this weekend! Can’t wait to see how well you do!
That is a great idea! Last year I wore a pace bracelet for my A goal so when my paces feel behind I wasn’t able to use the bracelet at all.
Thank you!
I’m SO excited for you! It sounds like you’ve trained really well and stayed focused. Kick some Route 66 butt!
I’d love to give you advice on being mentally focused for a marathon but, I’ve only run 1. My second one is in 3 weeks in Dallas. YIKES! I’ll be looking to your recap for tips. 🙂
Enjoy and best of luck!!!!!!!
Thank you!! And good luck to you in your upcoming race!!
Good luck! We’re getting a cold front in this part of the country so hopefully you’ll have some great temps for the marathon.
It definitely got cooler this weekend! So far temps are looking pretty good!
SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!! Good luck this weekend!
Thank you!!
Good luck this weekend!! xx
Thanks!!
good luck!!! you have been working so hard I know you will do well. I cant wait to hear all about it 🙂
Thank you!
Good luck with your marathon! It sounds like you had a quality training cycle and put in a lot of hard work. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Thank you! The training was definitely good, hoping the race goes just as well!
Good luck on your race! It was fun to follow you through training and I hope you can put that all into practice and have a wonderful day plus lots of wine! You deserve it!
Thank you for following along!! And I can’t wait for the wine:)
Good luck this weekend Lisa! I’m so looking forward to tracking you (stalking!!) and I’m sending you lots of positive, speedy thoughts! You’ve had a great season training for this race and you’ve worked HARD. GO GET THAT MEDAL!!!!
Thanks my friend!! I can’t believe it’s almost race day already!
Good luck this weekend! I think the less pressure you put on yourself, the better chance you’ll have a great race….and you will likely be happier post-race regardless of whether it was your day or not. I had a coach for the first time this past cycle (the same one as you I think?) and I loved it. I can be objective about other people’s training, but I would always over-think and second guess my own or neglect to put the time into my plans. I loved it! The weather looks really good too 🙂
Thank you!! Yes I think you also worked with Kristy! It was SO awesome having someone tell me exactly what to do. Now I just want to give the race my best effort but enjoy the experience no matter what happens!
I’m a new reader and only caught you at the end of your training cycle, but I’ve been enjoying your training posts. Good luck and have fun this weekend! I can’t wait to hear all the details. Also, it’s interesting that Philly was your first marathon since I’m considering that for my first next year. I’m going to read your friend’s recap next!
Thank you!! You should definitely do Philly!! I ran it again last year and here is my recap: https://www.milebymileblog.com/philadelphia-marathon-2014-recap/
It’s an awesome race!
Thanks! It’s my top choice so good to know you really liked it.
I can’t belive your marathon is this wkend. I feel like I have been following your journey throughout all of your training and you rocked some long runs. I know you will do great. The weather looks good so that’ll help. I try not to put too much pressure on myself before race day. I think it really reflects my performance. It is what it is. You put in all the hard work now go and do it. Goodluck!
Thank you!!
Good luck today, it’s good to read that you’ve arrived here pretty much stress free.. I’m sure you will enjoy a glass or two tonight though 😉 Best of luck, hope you have fun 🙂
Thank you! It was a fun experience, and there was definitely some post-race wine:)
Good luck this weekend! Can’t wait to hear about the race!
Yay good luck! Although I’m so behind in reading that you have already run your race. I haven’t read the recap yet and can’t wait to!! I think having a coach took some of the pressures off, but I really put a lot of pressure on myself despite that for some reason. I loved not being stressed about my training plan though, that was a huge help!!