It’s just a few weeks until the Asheville Citizen-Times Half Marathon. Whoa, where did the time go? There’s no way I’m going to be able to run 13.1 miles on September 18. And with all those hills? Maybe they’ll install a chair lift for the hill (that will most likely resemble a mountain by then) at mile ten, and lay a conveyor belt over Broadway for the stretch run. If not, maybe a rental car company will jump in as a last-minute sponsor.

Don’t worry, runner, these thoughts are not yours alone. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious in the final weeks leading up to an endurance race. Here are a few tips to get you to—and through—the Asheville Half Marathon finish line.

Stick to Your Routine: You’ve been running Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, sleeping 7.4 hours a night, and eating a vegetable-rich diet. Your routine is working and you’re feeling good. Stick with it. Don’t switch to Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, 5.8 hours of sleep, and go carnivore just to “mix things up.”

Love the Hills: You knew it wasn’t flat, so just embrace the Asheville hills on your training runs. The views are great when you (finally) get to the top, and all that practice will lift you through the tough climbs on race day. And remember: what goes up gets to come back down.

Stretch for Success: You’ve put in hundreds of miles in training. Your body knows this and will pay you back on race day. But only if you keep it limber. Stretch for at least 30 minutes after each run.

Don’t Fly Solo: If your running partner has backed out, reach out to someone new. Maybe a neighbor or coworker is running. A little dose of camaraderie will help you reach the finish line. There is both safety and success in numbers.

Warm-up on Race Day: Plan to arrive early so you can do some walking or very light jogging before the race. Those first few miles will melt away if you’re warm.

Don’t Count Miles: Okay, maybe that’s not possible. But you’ll do yourself a big favor by focusing on something (anything!) other than what mile you’re on. (Or not on.) Rehearse a presentation for work, play your favorite golf course in your head, or chat with your running partner if you’ve got the breath for it.

Have Fun: You’ve put in the hard work. Now it’s time to enjoy race day. Enjoy the energy of a great endurance event, the Asheville scenery, the cheer- ing fans, and enjoy your medal. Oh, and enjoy the donuts after the race. You’ve earned them.

he 11th Annual Citizen-Times Half Marathon & 5K is September 18. The race cap is 1,500 runners and more than 750 have already signed up. Register online at citizen-times.com. William Tiernan is an author, freelance writer, and web communications consultant. He can be reached at wstiernan72@yahoo.com.
(In Photo: William and Dorothy Tiernan and daughter Sophia make marathon training a family affair.)