Inspirational talk for getting through an imminent half marathon PLEASE.....

[EvilEmperorZurg]

Not trained enough but know (in theory as have done several already this year) I can get through this: I have a HM this weekend. I have not trained nearly enough over the past 2 months and have wicked gremlins in my head saying "you can't do this" and "just give up". I have form for ducking out at the worst times (last HM I did I stopped dead at 11 miles and went no further/walked out of uni finals halfway through/and many more cringeworthy fails) I battle this rebellious/defeatist mentality but am wholly open to words of inspiration that I can tell myself as I go along this weekend. SO, I'll start: you can do this...two hours hard work and it'll all be over.....

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

It's no more than 3 hours of your life then it will all be over. Well done btw, I have done 2 slowly and they are bloody hard work.

[HeySoulSister]

2 hours?? Mne took longer than that

Why on earth did you stop at 11 miles? Lol you sound bloody stubborn! Well good luck this weekend. Have a reward planned? Create a new running playlist? You know you can do it!

[EvilEmperorZurg]

I was aiming for a sub 2 hours - last but one was 2 hours but yes, you've made me realise I don't have to do it in amazing time!!! Duh! Beginning to relax now....
Soul Sister: I KNOW!! there is a stubborn part of me but I try to keep her well hidden!

[BlueChampagne]

Make finishing your priority, whatever the time. Evil Emperors do not give in, but they are allowed walking and water breaks. Save beating your time till you feel you've trained properly.

Come back on Monday morning and tell us you finished!

[ThursdayLast]

Definitely what Blue said.
You've done it before, and you can do it again.
But...y'know...we'll be here...waiting waiting waiting...

[cosysocks]

It sounds daft but allow yourself to do it, allow yourself to finish. Sod the time, walk when you need to and remember when your mind wants to quit your body knows it can go on.

[EvilEmperorZurg]

Am feeling so much calmer and more inspired already (could you all just line up along the route now!!)

I love that Evil Emperor's are allowed to walk and have water breaks

[fascicle]

A cheesy (but possibly effective) tip: allocate each mile to a person who is special or significant to you, or someone you greatly admire. Then if your demons tell you to stop, don't, because you will be letting that person down

[CMOTDibbler]

A 'bad' time is better than DNF is better than DNS (and better than never entering).

Load up your mp3 player with some really juicy, happy music, go out there and smile, enjoy it - maybe don't wear a watch, just go out to complete it and enjoy everyone around you, make that your target!

My HM time is not sub 2, but I like doing them, just like I am rubbish at tri but enjoy it (apart from the panic attack in the lake where I felt like a wounded dolphin surrounded by sharks as the kayakers surrounded me as I then swam slowly on)

[EvilEmperorZurg]

The FAQ of the HM has said not to use headphones. I have done races before where the rules have been: disqualified if using headphones and duly obeyed only to be really pissed off when I see other - not disqualified - competitors jogging along with earphones in!! What should I do??? Ignore and bop along when stuck or obey????

[ThursdayLast]

I am an obey-er.
I'd be seriously fecked off if I got disqualified

[annabanana19]

I am training for a HM in 2 weeks and do about 25 miles a week. Long run in 10 miles in 1 hour 35 mins.

Don't want rain on your parade but do you really think you can do sub 2 hours with no training? If so that is great and you really are superwoman!

[EvilEmperorZurg]

I haven't done NO training I just haven't done more than 6 miles in one run - I do three or four 6 mile runs every week but I haven't done more than that since June. My last (complete) half time was just over 2 hours so when I signed up for this I had hoped to step up my training and get to under 2 hours - now realising that is not going to happen I was asking for inspiration to get me through the 13 miles......

[JetsAndSugar]

I am also doing a HM on Sunday. I have also failed to train enough. I will also fail to make it in under 2hrs.

I have decided to be happy if it takes me less than 2.30 (definitely will happen). I am treating it as a training run not a race. I don't care if a fat bloke 20 years older than me in a comedy outfit overtakes me. Honestly. Honestly.

We'll be FINE.

If it is Richmond, remember that it is nice and flat this year mostly along the river. Enjoy the views.

[EvilEmperorZurg]

It's not Richmond but it is mostly flat - I will channel your positivity Jets - glad there are two of us so!!

Thinking training run training run training run training run training run training run training run training run........

[JetsAndSugar]

My brother (annoyingly good runner) had this strategy:

When you round a bend, look back at the hundreds of people behind you that you are totally beating even with crap training.

Oh yeah. I am an athlete. They can eat my dust. Oh yeah. There might be a few in front. They should be ignored. Except that one person just ahead that I will definitely stay with. I might even have a little sprint at the end to beat him/her.

[EvilEmperorZurg]

www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/running-is-terrible#4hrpplx
For my fellow back-of-the-classroom-with-regard-to-race-training-ers

[ThursdayLast]

You might like this too

the oatmeal

[JetsAndSugar]

I like this from The Penguin's blog:

Sometimes, though, if I go to a race I’ve never done before, I don’t see any of my old friends, so I’ve developed a system to help me make new friends. This system has been thoroughly tested at running events around the country. I pass it on to you for your use.

Never try to talk to someone who isn’t wearing socks. I don’t know why, for sure, but people who don’t wear socks also don’t talk.

Don’t try to talk to anyone with a tattoo on his or her ankle.

If the temperature is below freezing, don’t talk to anyone who is wearing only running shorts and cotton gloves.

Don’t talk to anyone who is wearing a shirt from an impressive event. They want to tell you about it.

Find someone who is standing alone near the back. They haven’t done many races and will welcome the company.

Look for people near the back wearing new shoes.

Look for someone wearing a shirt from some other sport, like a professional bass fishing tournament. They’ve got stories to tell.

For races over 5K, get into a sprinters crouch. If the person next to you looks over and does the same thing, they know less about running than you do – and you’ve found a partner for that race.

[shivs1974]

Instead of thinking of it as a HM, break it up...it's effectively two 10ks.
I have friends in my running club who adopt a run walk approach (google Jeff Galloway) and they really don't come in much slower than if they'd run it all. The beauty is that you don't go at full pelt & pace yourself...plus less likely to get injured if you've not trained properly.
Finally as a Marshall at our local HM that our club organises...know that there will be plenty who have not done the training...who are walking at 3 miles.
Some great advice on this thread. It's not about the time, it's about completing it. Good luck & enjoy

[fascicle]

ThursdayLast Love that Oatmeal link

[ThursdayLast]

Me too fasicle, I recognise The Bleurch!

How are you feeling today Zurg?

[EvilEmperorZurg]

TwO HOURS AND NINE, YES NINE, MINUTES

Cannot quite believe it but I promise all you posters on this thread that I would not even have reached the start line without your encouragement!! Dramatic though that sounds (and probably is after a humungous glass of well-deserved wine) I don't know many people irl who run so Penguin's (via jets) comments on meeting people was handy and accurate this morning - I met some lovely fellow runners and had a very positive start but struggled through the last two miles with cramps (lack of training does show!!) so walked a fair bit. I applied the two 10k's and a bit theory and that worked because I didn't even pause til after 7 miles (I was that comfortable with the first 6 miles).

Good luck to all tomorrow's runners

[ThursdayLast]

Well done!
I'm disproportionately proud of you cider

[BlueChampagne]

Fantastic performance, Evil Emperor! Atta girl! And relax ...