Welcome back to All Things Running with Sonja & Jen. Today Jen is going to talk about FOMO or fear of missing out on races.
With social media it is very easy to see your friends at a meet and wish you were there. But as I’ve made my way through masters running there are some things that I’ve learned and will share with you. I try to focus on my individual goals. Sometimes races fit in with my schedule and sometimes they don’t. So I set out my indoor season with a particular goal in mind. My outdoor season as well. I will not be at all the big races this year but it’s okay. If I reach a few time goals then it will be considered a success.
For example, my indoor season this year my goal race is the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston. They have a masters invitational mile for men & women. I will not be at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships this year as they fall on the weekend of a collegiate championship that I will be coaching. I actually think this works better for me from a full macro cycle for training. My goal races being in February and September this year. You can only peak twice so this set up works well for me.
Things I consider.
Responsibilities. I have responsibilities at home. 2 high schoolers, a college student & a very old needy dog. I can make accommodations and I do have the support of my partner. I still try to find balance. Weekends are the only time I get to spend with my family and if some of those weekends I am coaching, I really don’t want to spend all the other weekends away from my family.
Day Job. I’m a college coach with athlete, recruiting & travel responsibilities. Giving back to the next generation has become a priority. That means most college races I’m not racing because I don’t want to race my athletes. I want to be fully present for them. This is my choice but after trying it, I didn’t like it. Honestly, I am more nervous for them than I am for me so it just really doesn’t work for my headspace and where my attention is at.
Expenses. We are in the later phases of saving. My job is not considered full nor part time. I have no benefits. My husband is doing consulting work. Also neither full nor part time and no benefits. So dropping 1k on a weekend away to run is something I have to really consider. Also, would I rather the money be spent on just me or for more time with my family on a family vacation. If you know me, then you know the answer. Yes, I’ve made hard calls in the past like when I raced at the 2016 Olympic Trials Masters Exhibition 1500 meters during July 4th celebrations and it was the first one where I was not with my family. They took it hard but also understood. Choices.
Location. Is this a place I actually want to visit? Does it warrant time away from family or coaching? Is this cost prohibitive? There have been some races where it is a location that I really don’t want to travel to or spend my money because if it is time away, I want it to very much feel like a luxury celebration for myself with my best girl friends. Since it happens rarely, I am very picky.
Race Local. What works best for me is that I mostly race local and yes I’m incredibly lucky to live close to NY & Boston with plenty of high quality races. Racing local helps support your running community and can be a lot of fun.
So the next time you feel FOMO. Remember the roads are always open & we don’t need to pay enormous fees if we don’t want to. Not everyone is doing it. I select races that allow life balance. I like to remind myself that I do this for the community, health benefits and fun competition. I also try to remember that the next day I have a job and that running is not life. Running just makes life better.
Sonja and Jennifer are sharing their personal experiences. This is being provided for informational purposes only. We are not giving medical advice and you should always consult your own doctor for advice related to your own health.