I’m so honored to have Jesica from rUnladylike here on Lindsay Weighs In today! I really look up to her as a runner, blogger and person. I’m really excited for her to share her story with us today! (And I know I’ll be using all this information on Saturday!)
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13.1 Miles: What I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then
It’s your first time. You’re nervous. You’ve worked really hard to get to this day. You’re pretty sure you can do it. But you’re still not 100 percent certain about what’s going to happen at the end.
You are about to run your first half marathon.
There was a time when I believed I could not run 13.1 miles. I’ve always been a runner, but not a long distance runner. In high school, I was a fast sprinter, but the thought of running 3 miles with the cross country team made me want to gag. After telling some friends and my husband several years ago that I would never – could never – run a half marathon, I ran my first in 2009 … followed by 6 more half marathons, 6 marathons and 2 half Ironman races (and many other shorter races in between).
This is me with my husband after one of my first half marathon races.
As the butterflies mount in your stomach and self-doubt tries to creep in, I’m here to tell you that you WILL cross the finish line on race day. You WILL do it.
For all of you out there like Lindsay getting ready to embark on your first half marathon or thinking about signing up for a half marathon, here are the things I wish I’d known then that I know now.
Your focus should be on finishing. While you might have a goal time you want to hit or think you can attain, you don’t know what to expect from the experience yet or how you will feel those last 3 miles. Be proud of simply making it to the finish line. Be proud of the journey you took to get there. All the months of training. All the early long runs on weekend mornings. Don’t put pressure on yourself that doesn’t matter and doesn’t really exist. Yes you should set goals for yourself, but your only real goal for your first half marathon should be to finish.
Believe in yourself. I know this sounds a bit corny, but I can’t tell you how much believing in yourself makes a difference The thing about running and racing is that we have to remove the limitations we pose on ourselves. The ones that don’t exist. The ones we fabricate in our minds. The moment when we start believing – truly believing – that we are capable of more than we think we can do is the moment everything changes. Trust in your training. Visualize yourself during the race crossing the finish line. Know without a shadow of a doubt that you are strong and you WILL do this. Because you are and you will.
Have a mantra and use it. Similar to believing in yourself, you need to prepare yourself mentally. Arm yourself with some great mantras you can tell yourself while you’re out there (here are a few you can steal from if you can’t think of your own). You’re going to be in a battle with your mind more than a battle with your body. Start talking to your brain now, and don’t let it get the better of you. You are strong. You are fierce. You will do this. The mantra I use most is: You are stronger than you think. I even write positive words and phrases on my arms and hands during a race so I don’t forget.
This is the mantra I wrote on my hand during my last marathon.
You can’t control the weather. No matter how hard you try. (And trust me, I have.) Don’t waste your energy and stress on the weather the week leading up to race day. Know that you might have to adjust your goals or go slower than you were hoping to if it is hot. Dress as if the temperature is 10 to 15 degrees warmer than it really is, which will account for your body temperature heating up once you start running. All you can do is the best you can do with whatever conditions you’re dealt. Remember, your focus is on finishing.
Make a solid spectator plan. Seeing people you care about along the course can give you a big mental boost and can propel you to the finish line. Decide together where your spectators will be, which side of the road they will be on and make sure they are holding something YOU can identify. It is a lot easier for you to see them than for them to see you. Consider having them hold balloons that are a unique shape or design. Or a gigantic fluorescent sign. Get creative. Looking forward to seeing the people you care about on the course will literally keep you putting one foot in front of the other when it gets tough. If possible, try to place your spectators on the course in several places, and definitely around mile 10 or 11 when you need to dig deep.
Break the race into parts. It can be overwhelming during a half marathon to think about how many more miles you have to go. When you are at the 5K mark, thinking that you still have to run 10 miles can wear on your mental state. Break the race into pieces and set little goals for yourself to make it less daunting. First, focus on getting to the 5K mark. Next, get to the 10K mark (you’re almost halfway there!). Then, set your sights on 10 miles, because you know you can do anything for 3 more miles. Use whatever tactics you need to stay focused.
Have fun! Make sure to look around and enjoy the mile you’re in. Read the backs of people’s shirts. Laugh at funny signs along the race course. Smile at the little kids who will be cheering you on. Notice the people who say your name if it is on your race bib or shirt (if it’s not, write your name on your race number so people will cheer for you by name). Take in the experience. There’s nothing quite like it. Don’t forget to have fun!
A few other basics to keep in mind:
- The porta potty lines are going to be long. You’re going to have to go and it is going to take a long time. Be sure to arrive at the race with plenty of time to stand in line and not be rushed or stressed to get to your corral in the starting area. And yes, it is completely fine to have a major blow out in the porta potty. You’re going to be nervous and all those nerves are going to be churning around. Everyone’s doing it. Better now than on the course.
- Stay off your feet as much as possible the day before. Choose activities like seated tours and movies if you’re traveling to a race. Go to the race expo 2 days before, or first thing on the day before to avoid the crowds. Avoid sampling all the food and energy bars/drinks. You don’t need unknown things in your system the day before your race.
- Carry your fuel with you during the race if you can so you can eat when you need to, not just when there is an aid station. Alternating between water and sports drink on the course works well for me (but always take water with your fuel). Experiment with your fueling and hydration and stick to the plan you’ve used during race day. Never change anything on race day!
- If you’re traveling for your race, pack for all weather conditions. I once ran a half marathon in Florida in which I was expecting temperatures in the 60s and it was 41 degrees F. You want to be prepared for anything.
Most of all have fun and celebrate how awesome you are for doing something so amazing.
Jesica D’Avanza is a communications professional, writer and the blogger behind runladylike.com. As a runner and triathlete, she’s on a mission to find her extraordinary and inspire others to do the same. On her blog – appropriately named by combining the words “run” and “unladylike” – she shares her uncensored and sometimes unladylike adventures of running and triathlon training. When it comes to fitness, she believes we are all stronger than we think we are and capable of doing more than we believe we can do. Jesica lives in Atlanta and has completed 6 marathons, 7 half marathons and numerous triathlons, including 2 half iron distance races. She is currently working on her marathon coaching certification. In her day job, she serves as managing director of communications strategy for one of the largest global health charities.
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Thank you again Jesica for helping me US out with all of this great information! I can’t wait to use all these tactics on race day! You’re the best and I truly appreciate it!
What’s your favorite part of a race expo?
What’s your best race day mantra? I want to hear all about it!