Part 8 – Road to Göteborgsvarvet!
Race prep! By Lauren Høivik
Race day is just 5 days away! Am I ready?
How do you prepare physically and mentally for a big day? I know my body is as ready as it can be. I have been tapering with shorter/slower runs the last 10 days before the race. I have done all the hard work in the past months and there is nothing else I can do now to change my fitness. All I need is fresh legs, a clear mind, and a fighting spirit on race day. Hydrating well, sleeping well, and just enjoying the extra time I have since I am running less this week.
The mental prep is the biggest challenge for me. Do you get jitters or anxiety before a big race? I definitely do, if I am going to run all-out effort. I know it is going to hurt, so I get nervous about how I will cope with the discomfort, and to be honest, how it would be if I actually threw up. My stomach can get queasy toward the end of a tough half marathon.
Race day jitters are a positive thing. They are the butterflies that bring excitement and extra energy. They BOOST us. Race day anxiety is something else. It is counter-productive. It can cause loss of sleep and low energy. It BURNS us. How do you turn anxiety into good energy? For me, it helps when I ask myself “What am I nervous about? What am I afraid of?”
One thing I am afraid of is not meeting my goal. I do not want to have put in such hard work and had world-class coaching, only to not reach my potential of hitting 1:55 in the half marathon. But I also know that no matter the time I finish with, as long as I run the best I can that day, I will be really satisfied. And if I am satisfied, then it is a success!
So I am working on my mental game, preparing a pep talk I can give myself during the race when it feels tough: “What a fun course! This is a privilege! Your legs are switched on. Keep them going until the finish line. Relax. Breathe. This pace is 15 seconds slower than the Drammen 10k. You can do this. Let your legs fly! It will feel so good at the finish if you give your all now!”
And with the help of good vibes from coach Ingrid Kristiansen, the Göteborgsvarvet team, fellow RunAgain ambassadors, my friends Nina and Maria who are also running, and my friend Marita who is pacing me (what a GIFT!), supporters along the course, family and friends cheering me on back home, I know it is going to be an unforgettable experience!
I AM READY!