Hey Guys!
I hope you are all happy with how your first post season race went. It looks like everyone ran great! Post season brings a new level of intensity, and with that comes added pressure. Most runners experience some form of nervousness before a meet. Whether the nerves start the week before the race, or are just a slight pit in the stomach right before the gun goes off, every runner is familiar with this sensation. Nervous energy can certainly benefit your running to a point, but can also make a runner dread any race they step on the line to run. In the past, I struggled with nerves, in part because each time I toed the line, I felt pressure to perform at my best. There was always the terrifying thought in the back of my mind: "What if it just isn't a great day?"
Last year, I was personally satisfied with each of my races until New Englands. New Englands was a unique experience, in part because it was the first true "out of state," race I had ever competed in, and we travelled as a team to the venue the day before. Preparation for the race was very different from other races, partly because we all had such confidence and pride from our win at states the week before, and also because there was little expectation or pressure for us to compete with the top runners. The night before the race, I stayed up late with many of my teammates, which was relaxing and lighthearted, and was much less intense than normal pre-race rituals. I was barely nervous at all, mostly because I hadn't placed any expectations on myself and wasn't expending any mental energy preparing for the race. When the race started, I felt unready to perform at my potential because I hadn't processed the race itself enough beforehand.
Going to New Englands as a team was such a memorable experience because we had so much fun, but it wasn't one of my proudest running moments. Nerves are certainly painful to deal with, but without them, we often don't perform at as high a level. They allow our minds to process all the possible outcomes before the gun goes off. I don't recommend overthinking a race obviously, but it's important to recognize the value of being nervous, and how it can ultimately benefit your performance.
As the season progresses to the post-season, nerves are magnified as the stakes become higher. They aren't fun, but as my dad says, "when you're nervous, it shows that you care." Try to channel the nervous energy into running as fast as possible, and try to remember the last race that you felt unstoppable. Our fitness levels don't fluctuate much after a certain week of training, and all we can do is give late season races our best, leaving it all out on the course. I know it sometimes hard to remember, but be confident from all the hard work we've done throughout the season, and trust your training.
Good luck with the start of post-season. I know greatness is in-store for Maine runners!
Katherine
