First Race Jitters Part 1.

As it stands now my first ever half marathon is about 2 weeks away. 

Source

AHHHH!!

I would be lying if I didn't say that I'm starting to freak out. I feel like I'm just not prepared enough. I mean, I've been running my behind off.... almost literally.... but a part of me is convinced that I didn't train hard enough. I'm still only averaging a 15 min/mile or so for anything over 4 miles. Ugh. I was hoping to finish as close to 3 hours as possible, but I think my PR is going to be finishing under 4 hours. Blah.

I know, I know... I shouldn't be so hard on myself. It's my first big race, I've trained hard, I know I can run/walk the distance and it's supposed to be fun. But it's so hard to squash the competitive part of me that wants to be perfect. I realize it's going to take me a good couple of years before I increase my endurance and speed to a point that is anywhere near most people, but I'm impatient. I want to run fast now! *pout*

Ok... I'm done venting for the evening. I need to go to bed so I can start my7 hell of a long week, which includes, but is not limited to: working two jobs, applying for other jobs, rehearsing, performing, zumba, training, occasionally sleeping and eating. Woot! Bring it on world, I'm ready to tackle it all!

Pre-Race Jitters

Tomorrow is the 5k Race in The Park for Breast Cancer

I am nervous. I know I need to calm myself down, because I should be sleeping right now so I can be rested for my run, but the jitters have latched on and are refusing to let go. I need to be up in about 7 hours. That's still enough sleep, right? Right.

Anyway, I am excited for this run, on top of my nervousness, which is always a weird feeling. One part of me wants to keep my same time as before (if not drop a few seconds off) but I realize that I need to just calm down with the pacing and just run for distance. My frustration with how I've been running lately has me terrified that this won't happen and that I'm going to freak myself out on the course somewhere. Oy.

I appreciate everyone's advice and feedback about my frustrations- I'm taking it all into consideration and have vowed to focus solely on distance as opposed to speed from here on out. I have to remember that I am still a beginning runner and I'm not going to be hitting anywhere near an 8:00min/mile pace anytime soon, as much as I would like to. Therefore, my goal for tomorrow is to slow myself down, run at a comfortable pace, but to try and run the first mile before stopping to walk. As of this moment, I'm going to force my competitive nature into a padded room and lock the door because tomorrow is not about racing, it's about running. I didn't enter the 5k to win anything, I entered as a fun way to complete some training and I cannot lose sight of that fact or I very well may end up in a padded room of my own. *Deep breath*

I am excited for my race day outfit though!

It may not look it, but it's all pink in honor of breast cancer... except the shorts. 

They're like an orange-red color... and I've got blue shoes. Bwah Bwah.

I checked the forecast and it looks like some thunderstorms are rolling in for the weekend (go figure! Rain when I'm going to run a race?! Surely you jest!), but according to the weather station, the showers shouldn't start until the afternoon. My race starts at 9am. So, here's hoping that the rain holds off and I can finally run a 5k in dry weather. Wouldn't that be a miracle peachy?

 

What I am not looking forward to, however, is the 8 hour shift I have to work at my retail job right after I run. Yay! I'm just worried that my legs are going to snap off at some point during my shift and that would just not be fun (despite how entertaining it sounds). 

Well, I suppose I should hit the hay now. 

Good luck to everyone else who is racing this weekend! 

And a Happy Mother's Day!