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iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun iRun because endorphins are free Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

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The Shuffler

Pre-race jitters

August 19th, 2010

Maybe it’s because I’ve only done one half (halfs or halves?) but I’m starting to get the pre-race jitters.  My first half-marathon (the Chocolate half in Niagara) is a little over two weeks away now.  Actually, what began as a worrying thought at the back of my mind has just gotten louder over the last few weeks.  It goes something like this:

“How on earth are you going to run 6:52 kms for 2.5 hours?  You’ve never done that!”

On a rational level, I know that no training program anywhere ever has you do the entire race distance at your planned race pace.  I know it would be a stupid idea for me to even try because I could injure myself or at the very least, drain my energy reserves.  I know that it’s completely normal and expected for people to pick up the pace on race day.

On the other hand, there’s something about this that seems almost incredible.  Where exactly does this boost come from?  Magical running elves?  Divine intervention?   

I guess the worry for me is that my race days tend to be problematic in terms of my health and environmental conditions.  I’ve never really had a race day where all the stars lined up and I made a big improvement in time.  In fact, it was only this year that I made any improvement at all on my 5km PR, which was set back in 2007.

I’m really hoping that running two separate half-marathons this fall will get me at least one PR.  I’m not greedy – it can be a two-minute PR.  Right now, I’m trying to think positive and remind myself how well I’ve stuck to my program and how strong I’m feeling these days on my runs.  I’m also considering making some kind of sacrifice to the weather gods to ensure that it won’t be 35°C with the humidex on race day (my first choice will be Zipper, unless he stops pooping on the floor).

Do you get pre-race jitters?  How do you cope?  Is there any sense at all in appealing to the weather gods?

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3 Responses to “Pre-race jitters”
  1. Renee Says:

    Shuffler, I’ve bad news: your half is actually just over one week away, not just over two. Hope that doesn’t up the jitters too much!

    Also, I think the last half of our Tuesday Twelve was actually almost certainly within your target pace range.

  2. The Shuffler Says:

    Yeah, I realized that after I put the post up. It was a depressing thought. On the other hand, tapering is fun. 5×800m? Piece of cake!

  3. Karen Karnis Says:

    You’re going to do great. Since the Chocolate Half is first, and is meant to be run slow and be savoured, you should be in good shape for an improvement at the second, even if you don’t PB! ;) Which I am sure you will, by the way!

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