I read the subject line on Kara Goucher's Facebook/Blog. It was her mantra as she prepared for the Boston Marathon this past Monday. Just months after giving birth to her first child she was attempting to be the first American to win at Boston since the last time (I'm way too lazy to look up facts, just know it's been a while).
"I am not afraid. I was born to do this." This is what she told herself and this is what she believed. I wish I could adopt the same mantra, but there's no way I would be able to believe it whole heartedly. I am afraid. of spiders. of heights. Now, just ten days from my 8th Marathon and I'm afraid.
I'm afraid of dissapointing others
I'm afraid my training hasn't prepared me enough
I'm afraid the weather won't cooperate
I'm afraid it won't be my day
I'm afraid I didn't give my training 100%
I'm afraid of 'the wall'
I'm afraid of exceeding expectations
I'm afraid of uncontrollable happy tears
I'm afraid of friends and family seeing through the controlled unhappy emotions
I'm afraid of failure
I am afraid. On May 1, I will toe the line regardless and face my fears.
I'm with you on that. I'm scared of every race I run and yet I LOVE RACING - maybe it's masochistic, or maybe the only way to overcome the fear is to conquer it. Good luck on you Marathon - conquer those fears!
ReplyDeleteI kinda get scared before every run. I just seem to make myself calm. I think because you know it is an event rather than a training run. You know you will push more than you would during regular training.
ReplyDeleteI tried to use Kara's mantra in Boston on Monday. Even though I was clearly NOT born to do this, you'd be surprised how well it works, if only because you're simultaneously thinking "Kara Goucher is thinking the same thing as me right now." Kick ass on May 1!
ReplyDeleteDood...don;t be skerd. You're the fastest Guy I know.... personally! You the man! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteEmphasis on Guy because Blondie gots ya but think about...you school my butt any day!