It’s “fall”! Race season has begun and I for one am excited/terrified/anxious/PUMPED . If you are like me you go through every single emotion and descend into what is known as taper craziness. As your nerves start amping up and you start going down in mileage, that somehow becomes weird and you feel like you aren’t doing what you need to do. YOu start over analyzing everything. You want to eat EVERYTHING (ok that’s me all the time). Brain mush, you start not making sense (ok also me all the time). Sleep is erratic. I am moody AF. All of sudden everything feels a bit achey, and those aches become ACHES, do I have plantar fasciitis????! Basically going into running withdrawl. How do you conquer this craze??? Hopefully this helps any of those racing soon and even for our non-runners it hopefully helps for any sort of big goal day – crossfit comp, big presentation, date with your mad crush.
- Find yourself some inspirational distractions. There are tons of documentaries/movies out there to keep your mind occupied and inspire in our next race. Some of my recent favourites : Iracus – fascinating documentary on doping, BreakingTwo by National Geographic/Nike – documentary on the Breaking2 attempt: colesnotes – Eliud Kipchoge is a MACHINE and so freaking humble, or make your race feel like it is a walk in the park – Berkley Marathons. Or Remember the Titans. Or Rocky. Or for our non-runners Pumping Iron is suppose to be so good. Actually for everyone to watch – Arnold Schwarzenegger in his body building days in the 1970s who wouldn’t want to watch ?!!! AND if you weren’t with us last year, there is a November project film !!!
- Prep – Get lots of sleep, plan your outfit, plan how you are going to get there before hand, where you are going to eat. I LOVE surprises, but not pre race day.
- Stretch ! Phantom injuries – your pain thresholds become less, you are hyper sensitive (ie paranoid), and your body is in repair mode because it thinks you have stopped.
- Moodiness – Your runner’s high is low, you’re grumpy cat. Only real cure for this is just be aware that you are being a grumpy cat. Get outside, get some vitamn D, get a massage, listen to some relaxing music. Chill yourself out. Or just blab to whoever will listen.
- Lastly and most importantly, believe in your training. You have done all the hardwork. You woke up at 5, 530, 6am to come to NP, to do your long run, to meet your friend to lift. You skipped that really tempting night out so you can sleep well before the big workout. You chose to ran that extra Casa Loma stair, do that extra burpee. Race day is the celebration. Enjoy it.
Michelle xo
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