Susan Donnelly Ultramarathon Trail Runner. Motivational Speaker. http://www.susanruns100s.com
Standing at the Massanutten Starting Line Date : May 15, 2009
Standing at the starting line, you never know if you’ll be able to finish the race. Even if you’ve finished it seven times before, today is unique and the outcome unknown. Especially in a tough, rocky 100-mile race like Massanutten. The longer you’re out there, the more that can happen. There are so many variables that can affect your finish, it’s ridiculous: dehydration; pre-race sleep; training; injury to ankles, foot, muscles, even hand; rain; unpredicted thunderstorms; stomach upsets; missing drop bags; getting lost; blisters; etc. All you can do is bring your mind to the present and put one foot in front of the other. Thinking about the finish line distracts you from the business at hand and throws off your pacing – the more you think about it, the more you realize how far away the finish is, and the more you want to hurry up and get there. It’s hard not to think about it, but every time you find your focus straying to the finish line, bring it back to here and now. This way, you’ll get there one step at a time like everybody else, and when you’re done, you’ll also remember the whole race instead of just the finish line.
1/1 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)