Running races is one of my most favorite things to do. One of my personal goals for 2020 is to run no less than 13 races. Several weeks ago, I ran my fourth race, which was an 8K (4.97 miles). I actually couldn’t have asked for more perfect conditions. It seemed like everything was exactly how I trained, except for when it wasn’t.
Right at the halfway point, my watch died – which meant I could no longer track my run. When my watch died, I freaked out. My breathing immediately became labored. Part of it was panic; the other part was frustration at myself for not making sure my watch battery was charged. I called my husband bawling, sobbing in fact, that my watch died. There was no way I could finish my race without the ability to rely on my watch to check my time, distance, and pace. I continued running while I was on the phone with my husband, but I could feel every bit of me crumbling. In fact, I told him that I couldn’t finish. I told him I was going to get off the course and he could come and pick me up. He told me that my watch was just a tool – which I didn’t need. But also – he couldn’t get me because I had the keys to the car in my running pouch. Ha – joke’s on me.
That meant I had to finish; regardless if I crawled, walked, or ran it…I had to get to the finish, so I might as well run it. I took my watch off and put it in my pouch, re-centered myself, corrected my breathing, cranked up some Eminem, and kept pushing on. I finished the last half of my race, and guess what (!) – I got a personal best for my 8K distance. It wasn’t easy for me to continue without my watch. You may be reading this and thinking what’s the big deal? In hindsight, it wasn’t a big deal, but in that moment I felt defeated. In running and in life, we [sometimes] become dependent on other things. For me, I was dependent on my watch. I completed the race just fine without it but in the moment, initially I was unable to see the forest for the trees.
How can we regain our composure when events do not go exactly as planned?
1) Maintain your cool – staying calm is good for you and those around you – it actually makes situations better
2) Take a deep breath – this will help lower your heartbeat and stabilize your blood pressure, thus lowering stress
3) Be flexible – things don’t always go as we planned and that is okay
4) Stay positive – positive attitudes help us cope more easily at life’s curveballs
5) Run the race! – you have nothing to lose by continuing; you might actually feel better just by finishing!
Vagabond Texan 