Warning: Whiny Post Alert. Read only if you want to feel good about how much better adjusted you are than I am.
In the 10 years I’ve been running, I have yet to go to a race where things don’t start to unravel the week before. Ninety percent of the time, everything works out, and the race goes on as planned. But knowing that things (almost) always work out doesn’t make the pre-race logistics any less nerve-wracking for me because I am a drama queen.
I’m signed up to run the Desert Solstice 24 Hour this weekend. I love this race, and after my fall at Worlds, was hoping this would be my redemption race. But with less than 48 hours until the start, the pre-race gremlins are attacking:
– Hubz and I are both borderline sick. You know how it is – you’re at that point where you are starting to feel bad, but hope you can head it off at the pass with a little rest and Vitamin C. We’ll see. Right now, my sore throat is only a 3 on a scale of 10, but Hubz says his is about a 7. Yikes.
– My twin sons are snowed in on top of a mountain. They were supposed to be home this morning, but a storm hit late yesterday, and now they don’t know when they will get here. We are leaving for Texas in the morning (stopping in Phoenix to race) for our long Christmas break. I don’t know what we’ll do if they can’t get home today. Yikes.
– I’m not as motivated as I should be to run for 24 Hours. Because my mileage from last year’s race counts toward the 2013 Team qualification, I’m not feeling the pressure to race hard this year. I know that is a bad attitude, but it is the truth. All year, I’ve struggled with my motivation, and nothing has changed for this race. I hate this feeling, but it is what it is.
But, on a positive note (I don’t want this whole post to be whiny), even if I don’t race, I can go see my friends compete because we have to go through Phoenix regardless. I love to watch OTHER people compete – all the fun, none of the pain :).
Happy Running!
Mom, ultrarunner, four-time US 24 Hour National Team member, adventure athlete, food writer. Graduate of the Pro Cooking Program at the New School of Cooking, Los Angeles. Will run for food.
{ 13 comments }
Aw…hope you kick whatever’s threatening! I hear you on the motivation, big time. For me, I know that actually doing a little training would help kickstart the motivation, though that doesn’t help you since you already do.
And I’ve been surprised by just how much I enjoy spectating. I’d almost rather be racing, but spectating or volunteering is a much closer second than I’d have ever thought.
Your husband says his throat is at a 7 but did you factor in the ‘man-flu’ effect which takes the number that your spouse believes he’s at divides it in half and then subtracts two. This leaves him with the magic number of 1.5 which is an improvement on your 3.
Great timing with that snow storm – not!
So true, Char! He probably feels completely fine 🙂
Thanks, Kate! And I’m with you on the spectating – I love it!
Oh no! So sorry things are unravelling and geez I hope the twins make it home safely and soon. I have a gut feeling things will work out in the end. Safe travels and have wonderful holidays!
Ummm…that’s a lot of events to be worthy to whine about. Hope your boys get back down, your immune system kicks in, and whatever your decision is on the race, you enjoy time there.
There MUST be something that motivates you! For me it’s reading about people who take on seamingly impossible challenges, and through sheer perseverance they succeed. Have you read about the 18 year old woman (Rae Heim) who just last month finished running across the U.S. barefoot! Hope you feel well enough to race. I can’t wait to hear how awesome you do.
I always find that my best races are the ones I train through, aiming for the next one. When the big one arrives, I can’t sleep for three days and go into it frazzled, whereas the others I’m calm and worry-free. I’ve tried tricking myself by scheduling a race a few weeks after my planned peak and saying that that’s really the one I’m aiming for, but it doesn’t work.
oh no, I’m late getting in on this and you’re probably already gone. but i have faith in you, and motivation is overrated. ; )
Thank you, Kent! I will keep you posted.
Thank you, Marcia!
Thank you, Olga!
Thank you, PP!
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