You have this. You need an eight beat mantra to focus on. "I will finish, one step at a time" might work for you in this case. Just kind of zen out and focus on those words with each step. If you need to hear someone else's voice consider Blondie's One way or another (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zBwRDEFMRY) with the words "One foot in front of the other, I'm going to finish, I'm gonna finish finish finish finish finish" It's not perfect but it gets the job done. If you can isolate if it's your legs, your lungs, or your mind that is holding you back in any given moment, turn to Simon and Garfunkel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Reuyu9e_o) and customize for you "slow down, you're going to fast, you have to make those (lungs, legs, mind) of yours last. (Jogging, racing, running) through the Cherry Blossom race (joggiing, racing, running) along and feeling groovy!!!

Pick one song that will push you and put it on when you need to push. I love Bruce Springsteen and one of the best songs he has that is both a driving/pushing song BUT at a very steady even pace can be a metronome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJVauHVQ-X0

If you need to feel lifted and energized, his song the Rising also can do that.

Rotate through the above as needed. you got it!

No, you got this bro/sis. Even if you can't make the pace they require. F it. Finish on your own. Sometimes in life we get in a situation where overwhelming odds seem stacked against us. You may feel beat down, you may feel like hope is lost, but you stumble to your feet, use your last scrap of tattered clothing to tourniquet your wounds and walk, naked if you have to, through fire if need be, because even if you got there a week later than everyone else, you didn't lose, you "won slower than the others" because a whole lot of mf's in this world didn't even make it to where you were.

OP here, thanks all! Bit off more than I can chew

Popping bottle with the ice

You can do it! Your miles are in the bank ... just do a couple of short, easy runs this week and show up on the starting line well-rested and carbed-up. You've got this!

Is this the Cherry Blossom 10 miler on Sunday? You can transfer to the 5k. They make it easy. Will you be able to run sub 14 min mile? If not, they kick you out of the race if you can't keep that pace.

Anonymous wrote:Try doing run/walk intervals. You can do 3 minutes running/one minute walking or 5 minutes running/one minute walking. I am working with DC 10 on doing a 5K and am doing this.

This! Or just run as you've been running and take a single mid race walk period. As PP said, you just need to cross the line.
Signed, another random internet stranger rooting for you!

Adrenaline gets you at least a mile on race day. You can walk a few miles if need be. You've got this!

Try doing run/walk intervals. You can do 3 minutes running/one minute walking or 5 minutes running/one minute walking. I am working with DC 10 on doing a 5K and am doing this.

If you have run 7 miles in training you can finish a 10 miler no problem. If not just run as far as you can and run/ walk the rest.

Anonymous wrote:Use C25K

5k is not 10 miles....

OP what's the furthest you can run? If you're at like 6 miles, that's way too far from 10. If you're at 9, just tell yourself it's only another 12 minutes of running. You'll have more ambition when everyone is passing you.

Just remember that DFL beats DNF. (And odds are you won’t be DFL!)

Even walking across the finish line = finishing that race!

This random Internet stranger believes in you, OP! I hope you have great weather on race day and will report back!!!

Use C25K

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually you’ll be done.

Training for a 10 mile and has not been easy. Now it’s one week away! Talk me thru this