first race jitters (Read 715 times)

one week to go....! *gulps* First race will be an 8k...following hal higdon's plan to get ready for it, but much to my dismay today, i realized that his plan only takes you through 4.5 miles...with the 8k being 6 point some odd miles, that's leaving me with another mile and a half or so that i haven't yet attempted. I'd sure feel better if i knew that i had at least covered that distance at some point in the training. I wonder if i'd be able to see the finish line by 4.5 miles? I'm sure that would probably give me a mental boost during the race.... aside from that, i'm just nervous about the whole shebang...even though my only goal is to cross the finish line, i'm skeered to think that i'll be the last one (and by an embarrassing time too!). They are handicapping it, so hopefully that won't happen (boy would that be embarrassing if it did! Being given a 10 or so minute handicap and still coming in dead dead dead last! )...I'm scared that next week is going to be like an image straight from Highlights..."which one of these people does not fit in?" What do most people eat the night before? Would a salad be okay, or should i go for a bowl of brown rice or pasta? I know it's only 6 miles, so food probably isn't a major concern... On the upside... I picked up my first wicking shirt today- wow! Can't get over how much more comfortable I was! Usually by the time i finish running, my shirts feel like you could just wring the sweat out of them (gah, what a lovely image that must be! *snort*), but tonight...it felt just as dry at the end as it did when i started! The fit is a little more snug than I'd care for, but that just gives me more incentive to keep up the jiggle fight. Also picked up an armband for the iPod- didn't like the position of it up on my upper arm, so I'm sure all the *real* runners next week will laugh at my placement- on my wrist. Much easier to navigate the controls though- just hoping it doesn't alter my nike+ reading too much? the other bright thought...I did my run tonight of 4.5 miles, which felt really easy and good. Granted I did have to take a few walk breaks (for about 2minutes at a time...*sigh* Someday, I'll get up to just out and out running...), but even with that, I was pleasantly surprised to go back and see that I had shaved 3.5 minutes off my last run of the same distance! go me. *goes back to biting fingernails*

holy crap, are you serious? not even 5 miles in an 8k? shooooooot, i could do that! wow, i feel soooo much more relieved....now I am totally doing this race! still worried about rubbing noses with *real* runners, but oh well...hopefully they won't mind me intruding on their turf for the day. oh, and thanks for the tip re: the fingernails! you do have a point- not exactly the most appetizing of meals! But they do have protein going for them, right? *snort*

oh, i'll have to look into that one! I would prefer something that was at waist level, though for right now, i don't have anything that it would attach to (unless i got some new running shorts/skirts or a water belt....hmmmm.... ) this one is my armband..http://www.goincase.com/products/images/CL56085/detail/nanosportsarmbandpink2-1.jpg. Almost got the nike+ sport band, but i think this one is prettier....

good luck shyrunner. its hardly any distance at all past wht you've already done. and imagine just how great you are going to feel crossing that finish line

oops pressed quote instead of modify!!

if i do the bulk of my running in the pm, will that mess things up come race time saturday morning?

Some people do feel slower in the morning. But others don't. It might matter if you were trying to shave the last few seconds off a PR. But it's not going to get in the way of a good solid finish. You'll be fine.

still worried about rubbing noses with *real* runners

You're running a freaking race. What does that make you?! There's no magic cutoff time that makes you a real runner. It's all about attitude.

One thing I learned and enjoyed, is that when I first got into running and going to races my friends would tell everyone around us that it was my first, or second or third race...it was awesome how much support I got from all the runners around me. Try it, you'll see how good you'll feel with everyone telling you that you'll do great and that you'll have fun and all that. During the race runners will remember you and cheer you on with support if they notice you getting tired, or slowing down. Plus, it gives other first time racers a chance to speak up and join you with being nervous and excited!! Just some of the many reasons why I enjoy running and racing.

I found this to be VERY true when I ran my first HM last Fall. They had celebrity pace teams and until the 9 mile mark when the marathon folks branched off I was mostly around the Oprah pace folks. Very nice bunch of people and we went for several miles hootin' and hollerin' and supporting other runners. Whenever we'd find out that it was someone's first we'd all cheer. Great experience! k

toilet paper? where do you put that when you are running? i'm having a hard time figuring out where to put a pack of gum on saturday, let alone a whole roll of Charmin! hey, if the race website doesn't say anything about iPods, does that mean they are okay to listen to? Or is it just understood that people don't use them? My plan was to wear one earphone in my right ear and leave the left ear open, so that i can hear if someone is coming up on me (but given that i'll be at the back of the pack, i def don't see that happening at all!! lol) oooh, how cool is this? Next weekend there is a 5k run/walk at another zoo, and my daughter (4yr old) has decided she wants to join me! We'll be doing the 5k Sloth Walk together...