I get scared too

I get scared too…

Have you been feeling intimidated by your goals? Maybe you signed up for an event that is getting closer and scarier by the day? So you put off the training – because denial is always easier – until the day comes when you have to put your foot on the line. Or maybe you don’t sign up for anything because then you won’t have to worry about failing?

Guess what. I feel like that too. Every time I pick an event I think – what if this time I have gone too far? I haven’t trained enough, I’m not ready, I m going to make a fool of myself. What if this is the day everything falls apart and I finish last or worse I can’t finish it. OMG What have I done!!!??

Wow, totally normal response to pushing your limits. But every time you do something new it gets easier and you get more confidant in your ability to make it across the finish line. Just think back to when you were a kid, you did new things all the time. It was still scary, but your parents put you in swimming lessons or soccer camp or something. Sometimes you loved it and sometimes it didn’t work out perfectly. It did, however, make you feel like you were capable of the challenge. It gave you the resources to make new friends and push your boundaries in a safe environment. Then you became an adult and what happened? No one pushed you to take on a new physical challenge and it was easier to stop trying. Until one day you thought, I want to run a marathon, do a triathlon, ride my bike in a Century ride. You got motivated and signed up. Congratulations! But, since that fateful moment you have been dreading the day when you have to prove you can do it.

I think a little fear is healthy. It makes us aware of the importance. It makes you want to do the training. And really the training is the hardest part, all the days when you don’t feel like it and you go anyway. All the times when you push yourself a little bit more than the day before and it feels good, but man are you tired. All the new things you learn about yourself, all the cool people you meet- who are just like you – scared, even if they don’t admit it.

When it comes right down to it whether you make it or not, whether it all works out on the day the way you hoped or it doesn’t, none of that matters. What matters is that you tried. That you set a goal and did your best to make it happen. You are probably fitter, happier and healthier than when you started. The training should be the hard part, the event is the icing on the cake. The celebration of all that you have accomplished.  Even if you don’t do as well as you had hoped you should be celebrating your success. Success is seeing a new possibility and taking a risk. And every time you take that risk you become more confidant that you can make it. I remember the first race I ever did, I have a photo of me about an hour before the start, I look like I am going to be sick. That is how I felt. Sick. Sick with fear. I have a photo of the finish too – I look like I am on the top of the world. And I was. I remember that day. I remember how great I felt at the end. I remember that no matter what happened I achieved something. And I know you will feel that way too. Every time you put your toe on the line and commit to proving it on the day it counts you win. No matter what the result.

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