Blog Takeover: I Missed My Race!
Hi, athletes! It’s Rachel, Coach D’s Team Support Coordinator, and I’m taking over the blog this week!
The weeks and months leading up to race day are all about getting to the starting line - so when something unexpected pops up that knocks you out of the race, there’s no denying the disappointment!
This happened to me back in November when I came down with a gnarly illness a few days before the Philly Half. My training had been amazing, I was sure that a PR was within reach - but no amount of Nuun waters or ibuprofen could break my fever and I decided to scratch. It was the right decision - my fever persisted for a week and my cough was even more stubborn - but in the moment, it’s a BUMMER.
Here are a few things that helped my recovery and mindset:
Give yourself a little time to be upset. It’s okay to mourn the race you could have crushed! It’s very normal to experience sad feelings. But don’t let it get you down too long. I gave myself two days to mope and then I turned my attention to setting small goals for recovery and improving my health.
Trust your decision. A critical part of being an athlete is making informed, thoughtful decisions for your body and long-term wellbeing. There is no shame in making a decision that is right for you, especially if it’s a tough call. There may be moments where you feel “I could have toughed it out!” - remember all of the factors that led to the decision. Every time we would check my 102 temperature, we’d say, “aren’t we glad we’re not in a Philadelphia hotel room right now? Good call.
You don’t lose your fitness (this is pulled straight from my texts with Coach D, so you know it’s a good one). The months you spent training are still meaningful! You may have missed the race, but the hard work you put in doesn’t go away. When you’re ready to run again, consider other ways to hit your goal, such as running your race distance around town (maybe even with friends).
Sign up for extra races throughout the year. Not only does this help you perfect your race day routine, it also takes the pressure off knowing that you have another opportunity around the corner.
If an issue is persisting, take the time to explore what is wrong. For me, missing the race was a spotlight on the fact that (a) I get sick every time I train in the cold and (b) that I have a very hard time kicking my cough. How can I take this and apply to my training in the future? This led to great conversations with my doctor and an asthma diagnosis (didn’t see that coming). It’s important to remember that working with your body and not pushing through pain or illness is always best.
Happy running!
