Doe’s Anyone Else Feel Nervous Before Every ... - Bridge to 10K

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Doe’s Anyone Else Feel Nervous Before Every Run?

Guesty26 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10
30 Replies

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?

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Guesty26 profile image
Guesty26
Graduate10
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30 Replies
Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

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

Guesty26 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toTasha99

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 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10 in reply toGuesty26

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 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10 in reply toTasha99

Edit: parcel has arrived. Panic has set in 😂

Guesty26 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toTasha99

😂😂

Debsy2008 profile image
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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toDebsy2008

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 profile image
Debsy2008 in reply toGuesty26

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

tony_a profile image
tony_aGraduate10

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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply totony_a

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

ju-ju- profile image
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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toju-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 profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate10

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

Guesty26 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toSadie-runs

Bit of both for me!

Yes, but it’s getting better with time.

Guesty26 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply to

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

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10 in reply toGuesty26

Yoga is great for runners! Everyone else too

DebJogsOn profile image
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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toDebJogsOn

Cheers Debs

Debsy2008 profile image
Debsy2008

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

tony_a profile image
tony_aGraduate10 in reply toDebsy2008

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 profile image
Debsy2008 in reply totony_a

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

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10 in reply totony_a

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

EmmaRunning profile image
EmmaRunningGraduate10

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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply toEmmaRunning

Fingers crossed Emma

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate10

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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply tomrrun

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 profile image
mrrunGraduate10 in reply toGuesty26

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 profile image
Guesty26Graduate10 in reply tomrrun

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

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

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

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