So You Want to Compete in the City2Surf: Well, It Starts Now!
If you are considering undertaking the City2Surf you need to start preparing early. We can then develop a clear plan that will give you not only the physical capabilities to complete the course but the mental strength to overcome any unexpected challenges on the day. As I write this there is about 4 months left before the City2Surf. That’s about 17 weeks. If you prepare well then the last week is essentially a tapered week so we’re already down to 16 weeks of training and that’s if you start right now!
I remember on my first City2Surf run when I was 16years old, I was flown by the Department of Sport and Recreation as a sponsored athlete from ‘the bush’. I was incredibly nervous. I was a talented runner but I had never competed in anything like this before. I flew to Sydney on a shaky 12 seater plane on a wet, windy day. I met up with a whole bunch of people I had never met or known before. I stressed over whether I was as good as them, or if I had good enough gear, or if I looked like a runner. I stayed in a hotel, had no contact with home as this was my pre-mobile phone days and I didn’t even know how to operate a web browser and had no email address. I had a lot of self-doubt. I remember someone telling me to make sure as i go through the William St Tunnel to make sure I look behind me and soak up the noise and atmosphere of tens of thousands of runners stomping the ground. I did this, relaxed and ran a great race to finish in just over 51mins.
So why am I telling you this? I’m telling you because i know what it’s like to have self doubt. I know what it’s like to think that running and competing is something that other people do – it’s not what YOU do. But I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way because I know that it doesn’t matter how fast you are, how experienced you are, how hard-working you are, you will always doubt whether you have enough talent to deliver on your goal. It’s actually extremely exciting when you get this feeling because you know you are doing something that truly means a lot to you.
You would have heard athletes talking about harnessing those fears/nerves/butterflies and using them to their advantage.
I’m here to tell you that you are no different. If you are reading this and getting a little voice inside your head saying: “what have you got to lose?” That’s what you need to listen to. You need to listen to that voice and remind yourself of it every day for the next 16 weeks.
Picture yourself in 16 weeks if you decide to start taking action today towards this goal – you’re fit, you’re toned, you’re nervous, you’re excited. You’re living!!
Now picture yourself in 16 weeks when you are telling your friends how “one day I’ll do the City2Surf” or “I could do that if I trained” or even worse: “I could never do that – I’m not a runner – I’m too old!” etc, etc.
Which vision of yourself would you rather be?
Over the next 4 months we will be preparing, encouraging and informing everyone who wants to enjoy the City2Surf. We will be doing preparatory runs and training sessions specifically designed to help you be successful in August. Now, who wants to join us?!