Marathon anxiety

Ger the man

Hi all,
With the marathon coming up in about 3 weeks does anyone else feel anxious about completing the distance? This is my first bash at it and I have been training since May and finished all 3 of the adidas series with no problems.

rainbow kirby

After today's 20-mile? Nervous. Let's hope the taper works miracles.

earlyevening

Found this somewhere...

Taper Madness...marathon, running, and sports training. If you're an experienced marathoner, you know what we're talkin' about. You trained hard for months on end. You put in the miles, did the pace runs, the speed work, the cross-training and the long, slow runs. Your body and mind have been stressed in various and sundry ways. Finally, you're ready. In the wait before the race you fret, you obsess, you hallucinate and hyperventilate. That's right, you've got "Taper Madness!" All of you first-timers...trust us...you'll come to know this condition well. It's the Madness...we all have it. For some of us it's become a perpetual state of mind. But make no mistake, all of us succumb eventually. Embrace the Madness!

hunnymonster

Ger, I stood on the start line of DCM in 2004 and cried. It's completely normal to be anxious when trying something new. Just keep faith in the hard work you've done, expect it to be tough on race race and look forward to the smile on your finish line photo.

Highway_To_Hell

If you have put in the miles and have a few decent LSR's under your belt at the start line you will be bouncing with energy from your taper. Don't underestimate the benefit of the taper. Last year was my first marathon and at this stage I was doubting if I would finish the distance or not. I had a run up to 22 miles in my longest training run and at the end of this was not sure if I could go an extra 4+ miles. I am not fast and my target was sub 4 hrs but Mcmillan was putting me at 4:10 or there abouts. I wanted to run the full distance and mainly enjoy the experience so i would be back again to do it again. During my taper I was feeling little niggles on any run I went out on and sure I was going to get some silly injury before the day.

On the day after a 2-3 week taper I was nervous but felt I could definitely finish the race but might not get the sub 4hrs. ended up achieving all my objectives:

- Finished the race
- went sub 4 hrs (just about - 3hrs 54mins)
- rans every inch of the distance
- finished with a smile on my face


best part of the race for me was meeting my wife and kids at Milltown knowing I would finish in under 4 hrs unless I did something really stupid.

Believe in the power of the taper and remember - Quote from HunnyMonster "you only do your first marathon once, enjoy it".

nerraw1111

Good stuff HtoH. I'm hoping sub 4 hours and finishing with a smile lol

Regarding the 'run every inch' remark.

I can see why people would want to do this but surely it's a more productive to take a walking break every now and again rather than hobbling on?

i remember reading in one of the marathon guides that it's possible to run a sub 2 hours 40mins and walk through each water station.

For those running their first marathon, is it important to you that you run the whole course or cover it in the most efficient way possible?

I'm in two minds. One part of me feels that you HAVE to run the whole course. While another part thinks it may run a quicker time if i take a small walking break.

HardyEustace

As HM said, I've yet to start a marathon where I'm not crying my eyes out, convinced I haven't done enough training, that my knee hurts, that it's too hot/cold/damp, that everyone else looks faster than me, that I'm only deluding myself that I can do it.

By mile 3, you're really comfortable

By mile 13, you know that if you've to crawl on broken glass that yuo're finishing.

If you've put the training in, you'll be absolutely fine. Enjoy the race.

Krusty_Clown

Ger the man wrote: »

Hi all,
With the marathon coming up in about 3 weeks does anyone else feel anxious about completing the distance? This is my first bash at it and I have been training since May and finished all 3 of the adidas series with no problems.

While a bit of anxiety is healthy, you should make some minor adjustments to your current line of thinking.
This is not your first 'bash at it'. This is your first marathon. You will complete the distance, the only variable is how long it will take you. Don't get nervous about lining up at the start. Get excited. This is one of the biggest challenges you will have faced, but you will not be facing it alone. There will be 10 thousand other people running along-side you with the same anxieties. Run, and you'll live. they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom. On my command, unleash hell. Yes, we Can! Now go do that voodoo, that you do, so well.

TFBubendorfer

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Regarding the 'run every inch' remark.

I can see why people would want to do this but surely it's a more productive to take a walking break every now and again rather than hobbling on?

Well, I guess the point is that if you're well enough prepared you can run the entire distance without being reduced to hobbling - or needing walking breaks.

It took me 3 marathons to do so, but running the entire distance was definitely high on my targets list that day. It was also faster than the previous two, and that was no coincidence.

racheljev

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

While a bit of anxiety is healthy, you should make some minor adjustments to your current line of thinking.
This is not your first 'bash at it'. This is your first marathon. You will complete the distance, the only variable is how long it will take you. Don't get nervous about lining up at the start. Get excited. This is one of the biggest challenges you will have faced, but you will not be facing it alone. There will be 10 thousand other people running along-side you with the same anxieties. Run, and you'll live. they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom. On my command, unleash hell. Yes, we Can! Now go do that voodoo, that you do, so well.

Krusty, I'm going to print this out in a very large font and hang it over my desk, brilliant!:D

Aimman

Tapering for the first time is very daunting. On the first time around, once my last LSR was done, I was panicing about the measly 5M and 6M jaunts that were ahead of me for the next few weeks and thought that by the time I'd get to the start line, I'd be some overweight, unfit wreck, cos I let meself go for the last three weeks, but really, Your body is just recovering and repairing from the last LSR and you'll probably find in the last day before the race, your legs will feel like taut elastic bands full of energy just waiting to go.

On the saturday, its advised to take is as easy as possible, with nothing strenuous, and a good night sleed. This is because the day before the day before is the most important day to rest. If you get a very restless sleep on the Sunday night, it wont matter, cos it wont affect your running on the Monday morning, you'll be too hyped. Dont panic if you find yourself at 3am on Monday morning, staring at the ceiling going over all the stuff you need to think about when the alarm goes off, there'll be thousands of us all going through the same thing.

skater1

Hi guys, similarly Im a first timer and have myself all worked up now.

I did two 20 mile LSRs, then the half-marathon, and another 20 on Saturday just gone. It went quite badly though, for the first time ever I had to stop and walk the last mile or so in pain (think I over did it at the half the weekend before). I wont be able for another LSR between now and the marathon, need time to heal/physio, so just wondering if the previous two 20 mile runs will stand to me, given that they were a few weeks ago?
In other words my weekend runs in the lead up to the marathon will have been 20 - 20 - 13 - bad 20 - 12 - 8 - marathon weekend.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

menoscemo

skater1 wrote: »

Hi guys, similarly Im a first timer and have myself all worked up now.

I did two 20 mile LSRs, then the half-marathon, and another 20 on Saturday just gone. It went quite badly though, for the first time ever I had to stop and walk the last mile or so in pain (think I over did it at the half the weekend before). I wont be able for another LSR between now and the marathon, need time to heal/physio, so just wondering if the previous two 20 mile runs will stand to me, given that they were a few weeks ago?
In other words my weekend runs in the lead up to the marathon will have been 20 - 20 - 13 - bad 20 - 12 - 8 - marathon weekend.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

Well I'm a first timer too and I have only done one 20 mile run and Hal Higdon thinks I'll be alright, so with 3 you'll be flying. It is no wonder that you struggled this weekend with that schedule over the previuos 3 weeks. I read somewhere it takes 2 weeks to feel the benefit of a long run so just relax :cool:

Krusty_Clown

+1. I don't know any programs that would recommend doing 20 mile runs on consecutive weekends, followed by a race and another 20. It really is no wonder you struggled. Don't worry, you've done plenty. The taper will stand to you.

skater1

Cheers guys. I wish I had found this forum sooner. None of my friends run, so with nobody to knock sense into me I can easily get myself into a panic about these things!!
Its quite disheartening when a run goes badly like it did on Saturday. Anyway fingers crossed the injury will heal, and the next few weeks taper will sustain my fitness enough to get me through the marathon. Thanks again

Git101

Ger the man wrote: »

Hi all,
With the marathon coming up in about 3 weeks does anyone else feel anxious about completing the distance? This is my first bash at it and I have been training since May and finished all 3 of the adidas series with no problems.

Shamelessly plagiarised, printed out and pinned to my office wall.
It helped me when I was stressed before my first marathon DCM last year.

[font=&quot]When you stand on the Start Line, you join the club. When you stand at the Starting Line, you earn your membership. Millions dream of being where you are. You are no longer a dreamer. You are a doer.

Thousands more started a training programme but never finished. They started with the same enthusiasm (or more than) you. They started with more or less the same physical gifts or disadvantages as you did. They had no more and no less reason to be successful than you.

But somewhere along the way, they lost that enthusiasm. Somewhere on the road or on the track or treadmill, they decided that the rewards just weren't worth the effort. They decided that they could live without finding their limits, without challenging their expectations of themselves and without taking a hard look at their image of themselves.

You didn't. If you're standing at the Start Line, you've not only accepted the challenge, but you've also beaten back the demons. You've conquered your imagination and self-imposed limitations. You've gone further, got stronger and become tougher than you ever imagined. [/font]

Dundalk

Thats great stuff

Thanks for posting it

Ger the man

Went for a nice run in the park today. It was run of those runs that goes perfect, perfect weather, scenery, speed, breathing etc. Felt like I could have run all day.

atyrrell

Have done couple of marathons and all bein said is true and a great help to any first timer.Once you have done a couple of 20 milers u should be ok. I do suggest the tapering as i did not do it my first time round and i died a death in the last 5 miles in florence!went from a 2.55 to a 3.10 !2 pieces of advice i would add is rest rest rest the last week.The sleepin tip 2 days before is so so true.Also eat the right grub and try stay off the beer completely. One Dublin specific piece is that there is one tough piece on the course mainly the crumlin road drag....I would suggets u try and do it a couple of times if u can as it does not look much but comes as a big surprise as it is so open and if it windy even tougher. I attach this piece of the route. Good look to all.....Bring on the cryin thats me favourite bit of it!!!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3242368

Aimman

atyrrell wrote: »

One Dublin specific piece is that there is one tough piece on the course mainly the crumlin road drag....I would suggets u try and do it a couple of times if u can as it does not look much but comes as a big surprise as it is so open and if it windy even tougher. I attach this piece of the route. Good look to all.....Bring on the cryin thats me favourite bit of it!!!

I ran the Crumlin leg as part of my LSR last night, and the best way IMO is to break it up into sections.

Just as you pass the Crumlin Shopping Centre, you'll see Our Lady's Children's Hospital in the distance, dont look at it, it will never seem to get nearer. Instead, focus on the other sections along the way, and it will break up the road a bit better ie.

The Shopping Centre
The Crumlin College on the right
Alma Lighting Shop
The Iveagh Sports Ground
Caffollas Chipper (actually, dont think about that one too much)
Flanagans Funeral Home (Definitely dont linger on that on, lol)
The Hospital
The big old building site on the left where castle billiards used to be
The Elenora Pub (tasty cavery, hmmm)

And that should get you onto Sundrive Road and over the halfway mark.

thefiend

excellent idea! but ill be thinkin wasnt the elanora Val Hattons years ago??Agree its better to be positive on that stretch.Are there any other parts after that which are daunting?

Domer

I ran the DCM in 2006 and I remember there was a gradiant scale to go along with the map. Does anybody have acces to this so we can all see where the hills are (both up and down).

Thanks
Domer

elphinboy

i was wondering does anyone know what time the route is open again to the public i was too late registering and i really wanna do it have put a lot of training into it

Brianderunner

Aimman wrote: »

I ran the Crumlin leg as part of my LSR last night, and the best way IMO is to break it up into sections.

Just as you pass the Crumlin Shopping Centre, you'll see Our Lady's Children's Hospital in the distance, dont look at it, it will never seem to get nearer. Instead, focus on the other sections along the way, and it will break up the road a bit better ie.

The Shopping Centre
The Crumlin College on the right
Alma Lighting Shop
The Iveagh Sports Ground
Caffollas Chipper (actually, dont think about that one too much)
Flanagans Funeral Home (Definitely dont linger on that on, lol)
The Hospital
The big old building site on the left where castle billiards used to be
The Elenora Pub (tasty cavery, hmmm)

And that should get you onto Sundrive Road and over the halfway mark.

Isn't there a pub called the halfway house at pretty much the halfway mark in the race, strange coincidence!

I finish some of my runs over the last 4 miles from the rte studios back into town past the RDS, doesnt mean i'm gonna do any better on the day because of it though.

Aimman

Brianderunner wrote: »

Isn't there a pub called the halfway house at pretty much the halfway mark in the race, strange coincidence!

I finish some of my runs over the last 4 miles from the rte studios back into town past the RDS, doesnt mean i'm gonna do any better on the day because of it though.

LOL, yeah, you're right, they should be handing out free beer at that point, its good publicity for them :-)

Actually, doing small training runs at the latter parts of a long course can help, and I done it for Dublin, Cork and Longford. Reason being is that when you are doing it, keep thinking about how good you feel, and how strong and fast you are running etc. Its like psychological (checks spelling later) bookmarks and memories, and when you are approaching the same roads after 20 odd miles, you can recall how you managed them before so easily, and it will give you a big boost. Well, it works for me. Neuro-linguistic programming can come in very handy for a lot of things :rolleyes:

entropi

Git101 wrote: »

Shamelessly plagiarised, printed out and pinned to my office wall.
It helped me when I was stressed before my first marathon DCM last year.

Let me just say that it is as motivational for all us marathon virgins as it is plagiarised, and we thank you for posting it:D