Routines

Routines: everyone has them. And for the most part, I think they’re helpful, or we at least think they are. I know that I like to do things accordingly to plan; it makes me feel comfortable and confident. This extends to my running. If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you know that I struggle with my nerves a lot. One of the ways I feel more confident is through following these routines that I’ve had for years now. I might sound more than a little OCD, but I know that everyone does this. We all have these little rituals we tend to do, seemingly out of superstition.

A lot of my running routines have to do with racing. I always eat pasta the night before a race. This goes back to when I was convinced that I was “carbo-loading.” I thought that filling myself with carbs would actually help me race well and feel good during races. I have since realized that this is a total misconception, but I still end up eating spaghetti before every race. I think it’s some sort of placebo effect, which can be said of almost everything I do to prepare for a run or race. There is no proof that these rituals are effective or helpful, but they make me feel comfortable and good, so I do them anyways.

This habit of following routines can also be detrimental. There have been numerous occasions where I get thrown off and don’t get to take my time and prepare. This usually causes me to freak out. For example, at track meets, I like to get my spikes on and warm up 30 minutes before my races (which most people see as incredibly early). If I realize that my race is only a couple minutes away, I flip and worry that something tragic will happen because I didn’t do some side slides or leg swings. I panic and during the race I convince myself that I’m feeling bad and that it is due to not completing my warm up. As I said in my previous post, I rely on listening to music before races to get me in the right mindset. I try to get a loud, fast song stuck in my head to race to. If I don’t have a song coursing through my head on the start line, I also get spooked.

I feel that routines like mine are more of a crutch than anything. They help me to feel better and get focused, but they can also mess me up. I wish I could just step on the track and run with confidence, but there’s always nervous energy trying to break loose. While I don’t like my reliance on rituals, I feel that they are the only way to keep my nervousness in check. A habitual routine allows us a sense of comfort and calm, and I feel that as long as we don’t become too reliant on them, they are truly beneficial.