[tweetmeme source=”luau” only_single=false http://www.URL.com%5D
So we’re in the final stretch.
I hate this part.
It’s not because of the taper. It’s not the anticipation. It’s not even the knowledge that at some point during the Boston Marathon I will doubt myself.
No.
The part I hate most about the home stretch to Hopkinton is that for the next week and a half, I am going to be walking around scared, frightened and jumpy.
Luau! You have nothing to be scared of! You’ve got 5 marathons (and 1 Boston) under your belt. You know what to expect! What’s there to be scared of?
It’s not the race that I’m scared of people. Marathons are hard; marathons hurt, but man do I love them.
It’s everything else…and I mean EVERYTHING!
Everywhere I look is a potential hazard.
A toy on the floor, picking up the kids, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night – each and every one of these things, along with everything else in the world, is an injury waiting to happen – a slip, a pull, a stub.
That coughing classmate of Katie’s, the sniffling parking attendant at Jess’ work, that feverish looking checkout clerk at the grocery store – they are all out to get me sick right before the start.
Even food, glorious food, is fraught with danger – does it smell a little funny? is it gonna give me an upset stomach? could there be e.coli in it?
I am a scared little boy right now.
Don’t ask me to get anything off the high shelf. Don’t ask me to pick up anything heavy. Don’t breath near me if you even have a hint of a sniffle (I don’t care if you say it’s allergies!). Don’t walk anywhere near my feet. If you need to talk to me, call me…no, better yet, don’t – I don’t want to stumble as I walk to get the phone.
I would say that I just want to curl up in bed and sleep until the 18th, but I’m afraid of sleeping funny and waking up with a crick in my neck!
Yes, I hate this part.
Be careful fellow Boston Marathoners, you never know where the next injury is coming from.
Excuse me while I go wrap myself in Charmin and bubble wrap.
Run Luau Run 
So you know about the self fufilling phrophecy right?
Totally agree with Sheila. Your focus determines your reality. When you are focused on a negative (e.g. “not” doing something) you will most certainly do it.
Instead of focusing on “not falling off the balance beam” focus on “staying on the balance beam.”
It works for me. I always tend to do better when I through caution to the wind and act forcefully and deliberately. When I half-step, I almost always stumble, fall, and FAIL.
Nice try, Mister. The Honey Do list stands.
heh heh heh
BAHAHAHAHA!!!
“I am a scared little boy right now.” LMAO
I do know what you mean though. My kids like to step on my bare feet with shoes on and leave there toys strewn across the house. I’m constantly yelling to get off my feet and to pick up the toys.
Make sure you get some hand sanitizer and keep some antibacterial wipes in your man purse for the shopping cart handles.
😀
Glad I had swallowed my coffee before I read your comment – that could have been a potential injury!!! No murse for me – that’s what cargo shorts are for!
Hey! I’m right there with you buddy! I was just working on a post about the same thing. Except I wasn’t going to admit I was scared. I was thinking “neurotic.” THis year I’m keeping most of it in my internal monologue as last year my wife got totally sick of it. I almost had a complete meltdown last Friday when it was time to take Isabelle ice skating (Lex had been promising her that I’d take her ALL Winter, as Lex cannot skate). WHen I tried to explain to Lex (and Isabelle) why I couldn’t even think about taking her ice skating, I started to feel ridiculous.
So I took her to the rink anyway, and it was sheer TORTURE. Not only because it is probably one of the most difficult things ever to teach a 4 year-old how to ice skate, but after the first time around doing all of the work for both of us (when all Isabelle wanted to do was play around and SPLAY herself out of the ice with cries of “it’s SLIPPERY!”) my hammies were on fire. We did three loops of the rink and I was done! At least I didn’t get really injured. But it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life!
I am DONE overcoming my traumatophobia or even my mysophobia until after April 18th. Until then… I know I’m being irrational, just LEAVE ME ALONE!
I think I would have just put Isabelle on the ice and told her to figure it out. If she really wants to skate, she’ll figure it out! Young kids are good like that!
So funny, so true! I always appreciate the phantom pains that start kicking in about a week before the race. Those freak me out! And then race day – all fine 🙂
Oh, the phantom pains…totally freak me out.
I fell into a pothole on Sunday and completely tore apart my palms, knees, and even thighs. The risks are real – and they are terrifying! I’m with you on the Charmin and bubble wrap – it’s a scary world out there!
OUCH! I think I just decided to stay home on the couch for the rest of the day! 😉
Tom has been going through the same thing and calls himself the bubble boy – so funny you mentioned the bubble wrap. Usually he’ll cross the street if there are no cars coming but the light isn’t with us but he grabs me and says – wait for the light to change. I’m not taking any chances. I think if we all can laugh about the pre marathon jitters and how they manifest, they won’t actually manifest – ha ha ha. I’d file this under taper madness because the usual outlet for all of these feelings is to just get out and go on a nice run. Here’s to getting to the starting line happy and healthy!
Here’s to getting to the starting line happy and healthy!
Cheers to that!
Can tell you are in the taper. The blog post frequency has increased. I imagine we will be hitting two-a-days next week. Just sayin’.
lol!
I believe you can do this! You have to believe, too!
Love you,
Mom
Just did a speed workout on the treadmill tonight that is part of my trainer’s Boston plan…and my right quad tightened up in the middle of it, but I pushed on. Even though my quads most certainly have been tight lately anyway, since this workout I have been massaging, rolling etc. (I rarely do that, any other time) but because BOSTON IS COMING UP all of a sudden I am thinking, “Oh no…a tight quad!! Oh No!!!” Yep, we all have the same issues…real or imagined, they are real to us. Gotta love it! 😀
Well, like I always tell Ryan, if you go looking for it, it will go looking for you! Granted, possibly stepping on a lego is no joke, I think you’ll be just fine. Just take some airbourne and get plenty of rest and don’t think about the what ifs too much and don’t dwell on the what ifs. When ur mental toughness weakens THAT’S when things find their way in. You’ll be A OK. Don’t create a self fulfilling prophecy! Best of luck to you in Boston!!
Right there with you, buddy. I nearly fell down the stairs yesterday while foolishly carrying a plate of food down to my man cave. From here on in, everything’s being delivered! And I’m tipping double if the delivery guy brings it down to the man cave!
Now excuse me, I feel a sneeze coming on. NOOOOOOO!!!!!
I think it’s food delivery all next week!
Hey, just had to say that I’m glad my blog linked to yours because I’m enjoying reading your blog and plan on adding it to my google reader. I’m in awe of what you have accomplished so far… best of luck with the next Boston marathon!
Thanks Ari! You keep running! Eventually you’ll taste the Kool-Aid…it’s well worth it!
Virus running through Casa Ursitti right now. Started with me; now Andy is sick. I’m feeling weak and gross. Not good! 😦
No, not good at all! Hydrate! And eat chicken soup!
I found your blog because I typed into Yahoo “Scared to Run The Boston Marathon”. 🙂
I’ll be at the starting line in coral one of Wave 3. I’m not the fastest but hey…I BQ’d. I’m still terrified.
I want to justify my qualification by running Boston really well. However, I”ve read so much about the course “chewing me up …spitting me out”, I’m shaking already.
It’s funny because I can’t imagine not making it to the finish. I’m not a quitter. But it’s scary to imagine the condition I’ll put myself in to get there.
I may get so scared that I simply trot along, being ashamed of my finish time. NOt sure what it is, but it’s definitely causing a loss of sleep… even a week before the race.
How do you calm your demons?
Another friend of mine is going through stuff similar to you. I will tell you what I told her – you BQ’d. There is no question that you belong on this race course on April 18th. Is the course tough? Absolutely! But Boston is a race like nothing you have ever done. The crowds here are absolutely incredible and when you feel yourself start to falter, THEY will do their very best to lift you up and keep you going. In any marathon we all have moments where we feel like we are getting “chewed up”. That’s when you rely on your training.
And as for justifying your qualification? Your time in your qualifying race IS your justification. In fact, there would be no shame, NO SHAME, is simply enjoying the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston at a slower pace. Boston is the reward, not the test. You already passed the test.