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I grew to grow to be to the runner next to me, my stomach a ball of anxiety.
“Why am I so worried?? I’m not taking a look to are to be had in first- there could also be in reality no longer anything else to be worried about.”
It was 4:55am on Sunday 🥱, and I was standing with 25,000+ runners on a highway merely outdoor of Epcot, all other people gearing up to run a 13.1-mile course all the way through the Disney parks.
You may not know this about me, on the other hand I’m an *extremely* competitive specific particular person.
I don’t like shedding. And even though there’s no pageant to be had, I most often have a tendency to invent one anyways.
The phase marathon I ran this earlier weekend was a CLASSIC example- for weeks, I’d been legitimately stressing 😫 about my mile circumstances, worrying I wouldn’t ruin remaining one year’s time.
And throughout the process, I was forgetting to have the benefit of the race set previous than me.
Disney races are FUN- that’s why they’re so not unusual! You don’t run a Disney race because you’re taking a look to qualify for the Olympic trials- you choose a Disney race because of it’s a excitement to run.
<< Alternatively I just about disregarded it, because of all I would possibly simply believe was not shedding.>>
Fortunately, one of the vital announcers set my head instantly merely previous than the start gun went off- “you’re not competing towards anyone on the other hand yourself- not the runner in front of or behind you. It’s merely you.”
And that was it. That was what I needed to let move of the nerves, run a superb race, and have the benefit of the adventure.
A few other categories I was reminded of, courtesy of runDisney:
1. Stop looking left, correct, and backwards- you’re not competing with anyone on the other hand yourself, and looking at everyone else’s growth to look the way in which you measure up wastes valuable energy.
>> I spent YEARS as a business owner checking my enlargement towards other photographers- all it did was distract me and keep me looking over my own shoulder, robbing me of treasured time + attention I will have devoted to honing my craft.
2. Know what the “finish line” seems like for you– what would *actually* qualify as a good fortune for your books? If I’d set my points of interest on successful the entire race (not even a a ways flung likelihood), I’d have been sorely disappointed.
>> Alternatively how continuously can we play this “all or no longer anything else” recreation? If I’m not first, I’m somehow… remaining? No manner! You are able to be your best with no need to be the best. So, what does your best seem to be?
3. Pace yourself. I ran the 10K (6.2 miles) on Saturday and the phase marathon (13.1 miles) on Sunday, which supposed that if I ran the principle race at whole pace, I’d walk into the phase marathon sore, and with a less-than-full tank.
>> While you’re planning out your yearly goals, it can be tempting to stack all the large stuff into Q1 & Q2… and then you find yourself each exhausted from doing a great deal of in too little time, or disappointed by way of the fact that you couldn’t do it all. Previous than you ever set foot out the door, know where you’re going nowadays AND tomorrow- it’ll mean you can ration your time & attention additional realistically.
4. Little by little, it supplies up. I didn’t make a decision to do a component marathon the week beforehand- I signed up remaining June. And I started training in October. There were 100+ possible choices for me to lace up my running shoes and get my body used to longer and longer distances BEFORE the glitz and glam of race day.
>> Some days I felt like crap, and others I felt great, on the other hand each and every daily run, whether or not or no longer 3 miles or 10, was an opportunity to train my body to be able for the massive show. Don’t skip the small stuff- it supplies up.
5. No person is measuring your enlargement as closely as you may well be. We most often have a tendency to think that individuals are paying MUCH closer attention to our firms than they actually are- “I haven’t posted on social in weeks- other folks will have to think something is wrong!” In reality? They maximum for sure haven’t noticed.
>> I was stressing about in need of to finish within a decided on time (underneath 2:15:00), on the other hand realistically? NO ONE has asked me what my finish time was. Not a single specific particular person.
I crossed the top line within the window of time I’d aimed for. I didn’t beat remaining one year’s time (disregarded it by way of 1 minute, 12 seconds!), on the other hand I finished the race feeling superb, and free from hurt (no longer like remaining one year).
Was once I the best? Not by way of a prolonged shot.
Alternatively did I do my best?
Abso-freakin’-lutely.
And in addition, a few additional self-indulgent footage from the weekend, because of I put numerous thought into my outfits and want to show them off :).
Every race has a decided on Princess as its theme, and the 10K was Belle! I like to go the a lot much less obtrusive, additional obscure path in terms of working costumes, so I went with a Mrs. Potts look! The best is from my very favorite activewear company, Crowned Athletics (the code ABBY gets you 10% off), and the skirt is from RunSewSweet on Etsy!
The next morning was the phase marathon- the reputable theme was Moana, on the other hand I’d had my middle set on working as Rapunzel ever since I spied this best + working skort on Crowned Athletics. I’ve moreover got the leggings + sports activities actions bra, and it 100% makes runs additional magical. And I know what you’re thinking- “there’s no manner she carried a frying pan for the entire race.”
Ooooh positive I did.
See? Toldja. Frying pans- who knew?
If I was best going to prevent for one reputable Princess image all day (because of they’re dotted along the course!), it had to be her!
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