First of all, I want to say that I am very excited, shocked, and honored to be able to run on the Nuun Hood to Coast Team this year! I knew that the competition was going to be “fierce”, so I tried to come up with a creative idea for my application.
I want to THANK all my friends, family, and the bloggers (some of who have become real life friends!) that sent in the nuun photos (and willingly gave me their home addresses) for my video application:
THANK YOU!! Lisa, Caroline, Jessie, Liz, Katie, Jimmy, Susan N, Chris, Kim, Tom, Brandon (Batman), Robyn, Danny, Stephanie, Susan (Skateboarder), Clement, Emily S, Emily P, Kyle, Lauren, Audrey, Celia, Laura, Emilia, Andrew, Sarah T, Lindsay, Jayme , Kevin, Doug, Kristin, Kara, Sam, Briana, Holly, and Rena.
And I also want to thank the US Postal Service for delivering the NUUN tubes on time (except in Sweden and Belgium).
Photo with Jessica in front of the Nuun Booth at MCM Expo
***
Even though I am beyond excited about making the Nuun Hood to Coast Team, I’ve also had the upcoming NJ Marathon on my mind. With 10 Days to go, I am in full taper mode. I know that a lot of people get mood swings during taper week, but I’m not one of those people. In fact, I would say, this week, I have no feelings at all.
Let me explain.
My friends keep asking: “Are you excited about the NJ Marathon? Are you nervous? Are you scared?”
To be honest, I’m none of those things. I feel nothing. I’m not excited. I’m not nervous. I’m not worried.
This can’t be normal, right?
I was telling a couple of people yesterday that if anything I feel like the Heartless TinMan.
This is basically a self portrait.
It is awkward because I feel weird about not feeling crazy right now. Maybe I’m in denial? Maybe I’m so afraid of my Sub-4 goal that I am pretending that I’m not running a marathon in 10 days?
I don’t know what is going on!?! Shouldn’t I be freaking out? Shouldn’t I be crying myself to sleep and wanting to run 12,980 miles because I’m tapering? I’m not feeling any of that.
Maybe next week I am going to be having a panic attack, but for now (and maybe the first time in my life), I’m cool as a cucumber.
Does anyone else get like this before a marathon? Am I weird for not panicking?
{ 18 comments }
Not weird at all! I find that the less pressure and expectations, the better. I think you’re gonna surprise yourself in New Jersey…
SEE YOU LATER MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR
i just ran London last weekend and I was feeling a really similar way – it was hard to describe! I had set myself a really stretch goal (for me) of 3:45 but i told everyone that I was just hoping for sub4. I think i assumed the 3:45 goal was unattainable (whereas both of my previous marathons were sub4) so I became kind of apathetic about the whole thing. I was way more concerned about what i was going to wear since the forecast was cold start then heavy showers! I started out slow due to al the crowds and thought that even my sub 4 might be out the window, so i told myself to just drink in the atmosphere and enjoy it. I spent the first 19 miles high-fiving EVERYONE lining the streets and shouting thanks whenever anyone cheered for me and I thought i must be wasting so much energy but it was just so much fun! In the end, I had the most incredible race and finished in 3:44:27!!
My advice is to be cucumberish – at least that way you’re not psyching yourself out – and enjoy it!
Thanks so much Laura! I really appreciate that. Also, congratulations on killing your goal!!!
I think I’m going to start practicing my high-fiving. Since it obviously helps with PRs.
No, Jocelyn, the US Postal service thanks YOU for keeping it in business. EMAIL WILL NEVER REPLACE A GOOD OLD STAMP!!!
Anyways, like I said when I waxed philosophic over 16 Handles, I think its better to be relaxed than wasting nervous energy. Usually when it comes time for a marathon, I’m more ready for it to be over so I can move on than anything. Like, “gahh, can I just run this thing already.”
I think taking emotions out of competition helps you perform at your best, anyways. Emotions cloud judgement. And, what you need when trying to perform at maximum is good judgement.
Its good to have emotions when setting goals, training, motivating yourself, after the race, etc, but I think a competitor’s mindset before and during an event needs to be almost detached — a balanced effort between trying your best but not being attached to the outcome.
I’m not sure if that made any sense.
Anyways, you’ll be find. You’re normal.
hahaha thanks for saying “i’m normal” – I needed that.
+10
you are so going to ROCK your marathon! everything you are feeling is completely normal. i went through almost exactly what you’re describing before my last marathon in march. breathe deep and relax – and enjoy the experience. someone told me the marathon was like my “victory lap” after all those months of training hard and that thought made me happy on race day. i was able to detach myself emotionally from the daunting GOAL and just enjoy the experience. it was amazing! I am so excited for you!
i am also crazy excited to see you on the west coast in august! that picture of us from mcm expo makes me so happy. this whole thing is a dream come true! i can’t wait to share this experience with you! hoooooray!!! some much good stuff to come
) xxoo
I think you are just maturing as a runner. You have done one marathon, you know what to expect. I used to freak out before marathons. The past few I have had little feeling. Just started running. Maybe this is bad, I don’t actually know. I think part of it is knowing you are ready. NO NEED TO FREAK OUT. YOU HAVE GOT THIS.
Congrats on nuun!
CONGRATULATIONS on HTC! I’m excited to spend time with you again. AND…GOOD LUCK on your marathon! Sounds like your training has left you confident and ready to roll!!
I feel ya!!! I’m running my 1st marathon next weekend too and I’m trying to not think about it. I’ve been having some ankle pain occasionally and thinking about not being able to run the race makes me sick… so I have been avoiding the thoughts!!! When my mind drifts to it, I get scared, then excited, then scared again. haha. Anyways, You’ll do great next week!!!
oh and p.s. congrats on the Hood to Coast win! Your video was my fav. out of all the ones I saw!
Not weird at all. I think it shows confidence! Excited to see how your race turns out, best of luck! Even more excited to be your teammate for HTC!!!!!
SO WEIRD. i’m running the nj marathon too, and i feel EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. it’s my first marathon, but my 6th or 7th or 8th (ok, i have no idea) race, and i’ve always gotten super anxious or nervous or excited or pumped during taper week. and i’m usually dying to run and freaking out and full of adrenaline.
and this time around? nothin’.
the only reason i can think of is that i signed up for the race back in december or january i think, and i’ve been training for it for so long (by my standards), that i’m just kinda…. ready to be on to the next thing.
I DON’T KNOW.
but i’m shooting for sub-4 too, so i hope we both make it!!!
are you going to follow the pace group? I think I am going to to!
I usually stand on the starting line going, “OMG HOW DOES ANYONE RUN A MARATHON??” Every single time. It’s a problem.
YAY NUUN! So glad we’re together, friend.
First, let me say, that I absolutely LOVED your Nuun application video. It was a super creative idea and those pics that everyone sent in were awesome! (and the editing was great!)
Also, I think we can share travel stories in August! Sounds like we have traveled to several of the same places!
Finally, GOOD LUCK next weekend!!
YAYA congrats!! That is soo awesome about NUUN. I just started using NUUN last fall and am thoroughly obsessed. It’s going to be so much fun. And I can actually understand the marathon thing. I sort of felt that way once before. I think it means that you trained well (b/c you’re not nervous), but you’ve also become my comfortable with the whole marathon idea. You may start to feel a little bit more as it gets closer, but don’t worry if you don’t. You are totally ready and are gonna rock it!!
Thanks Lindsey!! That means a lot because I’m starting to get super nervous.