25 Replies to “Running Can Be Scary As He**, Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back”

  1. I’ve been struggling so much lately with the mental side of running, and being unable to break through and get a great long run in again. I’m definitely guilty of being scared of “failing”.

    I’m also constantly practising visualizing success, visualizing how it feels to finish a great workout, run, etc. It works! Positive thinking!

    • i’m SO happy to hear u’re visualizing because that will really help u break thru a little running funk. and trust me, u’ll be breaking thru very soon girl! 🙂

  2. Jeepers girl your blog is PURE gold. I will admit though that it was only recently that I had ever experienced pre-race nerves and it seems that now they are here to stay. I think before I was just running for fun and not really pushing myself. Now I have crazy goals and expectations and am STRETCHING myself and as you said – MIGHT FAIL. That is scary.

    Usually I am duanted by the training not the race. Racing is a whole new world for me now and I love that I can learn so much from wonderful runner/bloggers like you! :=)

    • This is such a great post!!! Having been someone who was considered a good runner, and then suffered an injury and being asked all the time whats happened to you at races, kind of stopped me from even wanted to try any more. That fear can be paralyzing. This post is really motivating thanks for sharing it 🙂

      • do NOT let that fear or the past injuries stop u from getting right back to it…don’t let the fear control u. injuries come with the territory but so do the come-right-back’s. 🙂 and yes, i made that a term. hehe

    • awww, b’gosh! and u kno it’s likewise chica. 🙂 and nerves are a good thing, trust me, my mom has a saying she’d tell me before my races, “i’m glad u’re nervous. it means u care. i’d be worried if u WEREN’T nervous.”

  3. Anything that’s a challenge is mental. I due believe in positive visualization and self talk. With that being said, I’ve yet to meet the goals in my head. Mostly because there are too many and I need to narrow them down. 🙂

  4. Wow did this hit me where it hurt today! I found myself giving up on a run half way through (don’t worry, I ended up brining it home…but yeah).

    Thanks Cait – I’m going to hold onto this one!

    • ur welcome super kate! 🙂 hold onto it and remember during all those tough points in runs we ALL struggle with the same mental beasts and u’re doing an awesome job of slaying them one at a time…keep it up. 🙂

  5. Pre race nerves are not good – they make my tummy work and this is not good- the line for the ladies is always so long!!!! They do however focus you and help you get to your best time…. must just learn how to handle them:)

    • well, make sure u get that porta-potty!! hehe…but nerves are a GOOD thing…u can channel them to help step up ur game. just don’t let them work against u.

  6. This is such a great post Cait! It’s so funny that you post this too. I look forward to getting my schedule so much, but there is always this crazy tummy roll when I think about it because I know the longer I partake in the wonderful world of running, the longer my miles are going to be and need to be. Um, that scares me. Not like a scary monster kind of way, but oh crap kind of way! 🙂 Part of that fear is failure, but part of it is that I am going to run this, I am going to do it, and I will finish, but oh crap it means I have to do it again. 🙂
    Fear, in some cases, feeds my energy. “The fear comes from knowing there is a chance of failure.” <<love this!

  7. Thank you Cait! This was a perfect read before my long run tomorrow – the first time I have tackled a 10 mile run in quite a while….
    Sometimes fear can be a good thing I think because it acts as a warning sign to remind us where the edges of our comfort zone are, and where we need to push in order to grow as people. Most of the things I have done in life that have truly scared me are the things that have truly enabled me to grow and become a bigger, better version of myself, to move towards my authentic Amy.
    I will be sure not to let fear rule me tomorrow, and as extra incentive I will wear my ‘run your fortune’ t-shirt so I know the wonderful Arty Runner Chick will be watching over me 🙂

    • awww, amy, this comment really did make my day! u are the sweetest and u better believe this crazy arty runnerchick from the states is ALWAYS on ur shoulder, even when my shirt is all sweaty and left in the laundry. 😉 but really, u’re doing an awesome job training for this race and so….how did that long run go?!!? 🙂 XOXO

  8. I love this and agree so much. Yesterday I ran in a race and won my age group, well I wore my medal all day and went to the Mexican restaurant. The lady who rang me up said she wanted to do a 5K one day and just never had… we had a nice little conversation and I basically summed it up saying just get out there, don’t be scared because nobody cares about your time much except you, and no matter what, you beat everyone on the couch! I read somewhere that your biggest competitor isn’t any other runner, it’s the inches between your ears- so true!

  9. Another great post, Cait!

    Fear has been with me from the start of running. We need to get over it simply to start, as many of us had very little running experience to begin with. Personally, I thought I could never be a runner (too fat, lazy, bad joints, excuses, blah), but once fear and doubt was cast aside, I discovered a new side of myself. I continue to achieve goals, impress myself and move forward.

    • thanks, Tyler! and you certainly took a 180 over there…i love how much runners, once they get into it, are able to overcome any of the obstacles they previously made them ‘not a runner’. i think the runner mentality just keeps taking over and pushing them further and further…u’ve been kicking butt over there! 🙂

  10. Great post Cait! I agree that it is always good to remember that even if you fail one day, there is always tomorrow. We can’t dwell in our failures but need them to motivate us to try again and again. It is amazing what we can do if we just put our mind to it and keep thinking positively.

  11. Pingback: A Runner’s Selective Amnesia: Push out memories of the crappy runs to keep room for the epic ones |

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*