Doe’s Anyone Else Feel Nervous Before Every Run?

[Guesty26]

Whats that all about, it can be a short, long, no pressure run, why am i always nervous before it? I’m not a nervy guy at all but for some reason it takes me until 5mins in to whatever run im doing to relax a bit, am i just daft?

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Yes me! Especially before the ParkRun! I’m already nervous about running club tonight!

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

I went to watch Saturday's park run and got all emotional at certain points I must be going thru some kind of soft man crisis! I was even nervous watching it, the runners were fantastic, all sorts of shapes sizes, ages and levels, it was organised really well so I am contemplating going on Saturday but that thought puts me in a panic! See how I feel. Your doing great joining a club, there is one near me on a weds I may go and stalk them to check it out.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Guesty26]

ParkRun is emotional though. Such a fantastic event!

I’m bloody trapped inside awaiting a delivery. If it’s not here by 6, my running club plans will be gone and I’ll have to go late night running alone after it arrives 🙄

Defo go and stalk 😂

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Edit: parcel has arrived. Panic has set in 😂

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

😂😂

[Debsy2008]

😂 Yes! I’m exactly the same... barely slept last night worrying and I have no idea why?! I’m not usually one for worrying so can’t figure it out but definitely don’t sleep well before a run... think I will tonight though 😂🙈

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to Debsy2008]

It must be a confidence thing for us, we are both doing well so maybe we just need to chill a bit with it and believe in ourselves a bit. The more we do it the easier it should get?

[Debsy2008 in reply to Guesty26]

Yes I think we probably still doubt ourselves too much... more faith needed haha! We can 💪🏼

[tony_a Graduate10]

I always look forward to runs, but often worry for the first five minutes that I can’t do it anymore. Probably related to toxic 10s - first ten mins often feel worst as your body sets itself up for running.

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to tony_a]

I feel the same after 10 mins just got to chill I think.

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Not daft at all it’s entirely normal. I used to get really nervous before a run but not so much now I run every day. I do still get really nervous before a longer run. I find if you visualise yourself doing it, enjoying it and feeling strong either the day before or just before, that really helps.....

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to ju-ju-]

Great advice Ju Ju, still new to this and good to know it's quite common, I will try to visualise, cheers

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

I get butterflies some days, but not sure if it is excitement or fear!

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

Bit of both for me!

[Hidden]

Yes, but it’s getting better with time.

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yep I've got to chill a bit more, wife is a Yoga teacher so will do some Omming with her!!! 🙏

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Guesty26]

Yoga is great for runners! Everyone else too

[DebJogsOn]

I sometimes get a nervous excitement especially if I'm setting off on a longer run. Once I graduated I was convinced for a while that I'd fail in carrying on but got myself past that by thinking I'm going to run for 10 minutes however awful it is and if I feel I can't carry on at that point then I'll stop. I've only ever stopped at 10 minutes once (due to asthma attack I told you about after going off too fast) as, probably linked to toxic 10 effect tony_a mentions, by then I'm feeling good.

Happy running 😊

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn]

Cheers Debs

[Debsy2008]

Sorry to ask a silly question guys but what’s toxic 10?

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to Debsy2008]

Others can probably explain it better than me, but basically it’s that the first ten minutes of a run can often feel tough - heavy legs, hard to get breathing right etc. And this is because your body can take ten minutes or so after you start running to get your heart rate up, increase blood flow to your muscles and generally adapt to the increased demand you’re putting on it.

[Debsy2008 in reply to tony_a]

Thank you! Yes that makes sense I do find the first bit the hardest weirdly, so that explains it, thank you 😊

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to tony_a]

Mine is a toxic 20! Or at least a toxic 2k 😂

[EmmaRunning Graduate10]

Yes!! (to the nerves) but I always felt a bit like that as a kid on sports day and I haven't really been running since then until I started C25K. Maybe it goes away after time

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to EmmaRunning]

Fingers crossed Emma

[mrrun Graduate10]

Being nervous is often linked with how you anticipate your performance (often subconsciously). Ask any musician, public speaker or pro sport guys.

It is also linked with whatever fears you might have, usually of injuries or inability to complete tasks. Again, you don’t really sit down, analyse and anticipate those things, they are present inside of all of us, they just need a right trigger.

Fears are amplified if you are expecting an event (race or big target). For that reason I always run alone, choose my own times and routes and always set my own targets in my own time. I don’t want running to scare me, or burden me with any expectations, I want to enjoy this thing to the full without proving anything.

Having said all this, I worked hard on those bits years ago and learned how to control anxieties linked with performance and expectations. The key is to simply go and do whatever needs doing without much thinking, the confidence will follow and so will the enjoyment.

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

Great post Mrrun that makes a lot of sense to me. I am ex forces, ex sportsman and I have to get rid of my type A mentality I think and learn to chill with running. This running malarkey is very relaxing when I'm doing it and it will hopefully take me into retirement keeping me fit n healthy, don't want it to become too serious for me.

[mrrun Graduate10 in reply to Guesty26]

Exactly! This isn't competition, and that's major reason why I genuinely love it. Not sure where you are but there was a proper shower over south London yesterday afternoon, with thunders, the whole show, 'stay inside' kinda thing. I put my gear on, and did 5K in the deluge, two laps around the park. Tell you what mate, that felt great! And for me that's the whole point.

Enjoy yourself, you deserve it!

[Guesty26 Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

Cheers bud, live In Barnsley Yorkshire and guess we got what you had yesterday this morning, still bouncing down ☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️

[misswobble Graduate10]

No, it’s excitement! That’s good as it will mean you’re up for it 💪👍😃