Freak Out
I slept HORRIBLY last night. I kept having these psycho-nightmares about collapsing in my half-marathon on Saturday. Or coming in dead-last. Or pooping on myself. Or coming in just giving up and hitching a ride back home while everyone waits for me at the finish-line.
Logically, I know none of these things are going to happen. Well, the dead-last thing might, but I’m trying to convince myself I don’t care about that. But the Not Finishing, or the Pooping, or the Collapsing…those things are probably not going to happen since I ran 11.6 miles this weekend and survived to tell about it. But, there is still that part of me that doesn’t think I can do it, the same part that thought trying to run 13.1 miles when I couldn’t even run .1 without dying was ridiculous. That part still likes to eat at my confidence.
I’ve been trying to round up people to station themselves at places along the course to cheer me on. I think I can make it to about mile five or six without needing any emotional support. But from there on out? I’m trying to spread out any willing friends or family to come cheer me on, and then after I make it through their station, they can jump in their car to meet me at the finish-line. I’ve talked LilZ into running the last half-mile or so with me to help me on that final stretch that I know will be the hardest.
For those of you who have run marathons, this probably all seems silly and overly dramatic. But I’m hoping those of you who are like I was 6 months ago – seeing 13.1 miles as incredibly FAR – will understand. The logical part of my brain knows I can do it, but that part is very quiet and polite and just sits back and lets the emotional part wreak havok on my mind. I never even registered for the damn race and now will have to do it at Fleet Feet this week. That’s how scared I am…I can’t even commit to the postage.
It’s going to be a long five days.
Run, Zoot, Run!
(can we make t-shirts with that on ‘em?)
I’m yelling for you in spirit. Right around mile 12. Cuz after you get there, it’s less than two miles to the finish, and you can run two miles in YOUR SLEEP. See? I’m helping already.
You are sooo going to do it! Just getting up and getting there is half the battle. I am sure that once you start you will be so excited to make it across the finish line you won’t even need to have the people at the stations. They will totally be cheering you on at the finish line. Yeaaa Miss Zoot! A half marathon is awesome!!
This time we’re nothing alike: I hate having people cheering me on during a run and just want to be left alone. I hear people yell “looking good!” and it pisses me off. All I can think is “I do NOT look good. I look like a tomato!”
I wish I could be there to cheer you on! You CAN do it!
um, so that seems like a super long distance to me! but with your friends and family there, you will make it for sure.
and ps … you’ve inspired me to get up onto a treadmill (as soon as we join a gym, which will be next week i think).
Go Zoot! I am so amazed and impressed by how far you’ve come already! I have no doubts that you’ll kick some ass in the 1/2 marathon. If I was in your neck of the woods, I’d stop on by to cheer you on!
you know the pre wedding cold feet? this is the pre half marathon cold feet. I always go through it. Always…it’s usually accompanied by some psychosomatic illness, or leg cramp that leaves me positive that there is no way I will be able to finish 13.1 miles. WHAT WAS I THINKING?
It’s kinda like labor, once you start it, you’re pretty much committed unless their is an emergency c-section…in which case you still finish….
I will so be cheering for you from Boston! You can do it!
You are amazing for just coming this far. There are thousands of people who don’t have nearly the dedication to do what you’ve done including me. Six months ago, this was a dream for you…now you are a running machine and getting better ever day. I love watching your running journey and it is truly an inspiration! Good luck!
You are totally ready physically. The mental part will catch up with the excitement of the race. You know you can do it. I will be cyber cheering. (Great idea to have Lil’Z run with you at the end.)
remember that the sleep 2 nights be for race day is more important than sleep the night before.
I ALWAYS have cold feet the week before, taper madness sucks.
Who cares who finishes before you, you WILL finish and that’s all that matters.
I would love to come and cheer you on, unfortunately it might be a little late to book the trip
Maybe you can take a mobile or something, that we can send you messages at appropriate intervals?
Hmm, that might not have the same effect as actual people cheering you on.
But you can do it! Think about how far you’ve come already. I have to say that is one of the best things that has come out of my fumbling attempts at running — every step I run builds my self confidence a little bit more because I was so convinced I couldn’t do it before.
Go Zoot go!
Aw…I’d totally cheer you on, were I there. Maybe you could make a sign, and post it around, say, 8.5 miles, that says: “Heather totally knows I can do this. So Ha!”
definitely pre-marathon jitters. i have them before EVERY race. i’m already nervous for the turkey trot on thanksgiving & it’s only 5 miles. you’ll finish and you know why, b/c there will be people like you there who are running their first half too. runners are a great community. remember, good sleep the final 3 nights(not so much the last night), eat well but not too much the night before & eat VERY light the morning before. thnk morning sickness light.
GOOD LUCK!!