Beware the Warning Signs of…Race Mode!
It starts about a week before an upcoming race. My mind begins pondering some aspect of that race. It could be wondering about the weather on race day. Or a thought or two about how I may want to run this race. But it doesn’t stop there. As the day of the race draws closer, I find myself devoting more and more thought to it, until my mind is completely fixated on this pending event. It’s a debilitating condition that I refer to as…Race Mode.
Whether a 10K with a small turnout or a large race like the Bix 7, it makes no difference. I find myself afflicted with that same obsessive focus. In the hopes of providing everyone with more information, let me share with you The Warning Signs of Race Mode.
Overanalyzing The Race. This is the first and hardest one to detect. That’s because it starts with a few casual thoughts about the race. From there, your mind starts to stumble into specifics. How fast should you run that first mile? What about that hill on mile five? From there, it's a simple consideration of pace before you tumble down that rabbit hole, reviewing past results, studying recent workouts, visualizing the start of that race to the finish and so on as you seek the perfect strategy.
Fixating on The Weather. It’s not unusual for runners to be preoccupied with the weather as we’re often at its mercy. But Race Mode ramps that up to another level entirely. You’re not just checking the forecast on a daily basis for the race. No, you're checking continually to see that if that 10% chance of rain or snow becomes 11% or even 12%. Or if the wind will be at your back or face for that final stretch. You can’t wait until you can see the hourly breakdowns so you can check those even more often.
Overthinking Your Racing Attire. This warning sign is an indication that you may be too far gone by this point. It means that you simply cannot make up your mind about what you’ll wear for that race. Will it be too hot for that long-sleeved top? Won’t the gray shorts get too dirty on that trail run? Should you wear that teal tank if it might clash with those green and orange racing shoes? And for heaven's sake, what will the bib look like against that yellow top?
Becoming Overly Superstitious. Seeking to have a good performance on race day leaves a runner all the more susceptible to becoming overly superstitious. As your mind plummets further into the weeds of Race Mode, it’s that much easier to fall prey to any number of fears that you believe could impact this race. No way can you wear those Nike socks that you had on when that damned hamstring forced you to slow down in that last 10K. Or you’re going to avoid binging on "Star Trek: Discovery" since that was what you'd watched the night before had that awful half marathon last fall. And the flip side is also true. If kissing your spouse on the forehead as they slept before you left for that last race had anything to do with setting a PR, then there’s no way in the world that you’re not going to kiss them on that same exact spot while they’re sleeping before this race. (Even if that means doing so at 3 am in the morning!)
Worrying About Your Diet. This actually makes sense. At least a day or two before that race. But with Race Mode, you’re focused on your diet days before that race. You put down that cupcake five days before the race, knowing that somehow all those carbs will come back to haunt you on the last three miles of that pending half. It also has you carefully considering not only each meal, but the portions as well. Do you dare have one more grilled shrimp or two more bites of that seasoned pasta? And should you drink only Oregon wines the week before a race? Or can you vary that with ones from the Paso Robles region in California? (Okay, that last one’s my obsession.)
Constant Revisions of the Playlist. If you’re a music geek like me and plan out the songs for a race, this warning sign is a particularly tough one. You may have thought that The Rolling Stone’s “Start Me Up” is a great song for the beginning of the race two weeks ago. But now you’re wondering if Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” wouldn’t be a better choice? If it is, then do you need to move Lizzo’s “Special” further down the playlist? And so on until you’ve stumbled into a labyrinth that not even David Bowie could escape.
Running the Race in Your Sleep. This final symptom occurs the night before the race. Instead of a restful slumber, your subconscious mind becomes fully engaged with the race. You even start running it in your sleep. According to Amy, my “running” becomes annoying enough that she typically sleeps in the guest room the night before the race. No doubt wishing she’d married someone who has the decency to only snore at night.
While it’s my advice that you heed each of these warning signs, I also have to be honest. There is no cure for Race Mode. If you’ve caught it once, odds are pretty strong you’ll catch it again before your next race. And those odds only increase with each subsequent race.
What can you do?
Accept it. Like I said, there’s no cure. And do you honestly want one? You are a runner! It’s an activity that requires discipline and determination. Why fight it? Instead, use Race Mode to get that adrenaline flowing and release all that pent up energy on race day. In other words, use Race Mode to go out and have the best race you can.
Afterwards, you suck up big time to your spouse and family, buying nice dinner or pretending to like watching HGTV. On that note, I'm also wondering if we should create some kind of support group for our spouses and loved ones who have to put up with us when we’re in Race Mode.
What about you? Do you suffer from Race Mode? If so, do you experience any different warning signs? Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook.
This was so funny! Now it's time to start thinking about collecting your columns and publishing a book.