The slow run

The week before

You can feel a strange feeling growing in your stomach and feet. You do your last training at a slower pace. You have your most intense training days behind you. You’re setting a goal for the race if you haven’t already. You’re rechecking the details of the race; you follow the route and imagine it in your mind. Maybe you use Google Street View to see the real deal. You’re getting close.

The travel

It could be that you race in your hometown, but frequently, it’s somewhere else, further or closer. You check the weather and start packing your things. Do you choose a shirt you already have or use the one provided at the race? You take one or two shirts with you just in case. You pack your shorts, running shoes, magnesium, and other supplements. The strange feeling grows – things are getting real.

The day before

You’ve arrived at the location – it’s the day before the race. You go pick up your running kit and gaze at the starting line. You get soaked into the atmosphere, the buzz of hundreds of runners, the festivities. You make your way through, tell your name and get your shirt, race number, and bag of goodies. You’re all set up.

The night before

You’ve laid out your outfit and gear for tomorrow. Maybe you snatched a photo and posted it on social media. You go to bed early. You probably can’t sleep. You see the race, you’re running it already, you’re there. Good night. 

That morning

You wake up early – maybe earlier than you usually do, but you’re energized. You have a mission, and nothing can keep you in bed. You can barely eat anything and get quickly dressed. You go out the door and follow your pre-chosen route to the start. You can feel the chills; it’s not just the morning cold, it’s coming from inside, and you’re both nervous and excited. You start seeing runners going in the same direction, and the streets get flooded with race numbers and colorful shirts – it’s a spectacle. The sound of music increases, and you can hear the MCs speaking – you’re almost there. Next thing you know, you’re standing in line at the start.

3…2…1… GO! There’s only one thing left to do:

RUN