It’s fall and within the next couple weeks some of the biggest marathons in the country will be taking place: Chicago, New York, Philidelphia! I’ve always felt a nervous energy when race day approaches but I know I’m not alone. Pre-race jitters affect everyone, from first-timers to seasoned marathoners. The anticipation can stir up a boat load of excitement, anxiety, and self-doubt.

The good news: those feelings are normal and can even be redirected into a positive experience.

My race season ended almost a month ago with the Leadville 100 and like many other runners I found myself asking, "Now what?" After months of training, racing, and intense focus on goals, it’s common to feel a mix of emotions – relief, pride, and sometimes even a sense of loss, let down and sadness. The end of a race season can impact your mental health in ways you might not expect. Here’s several ideas on how to navigate this transition and take care of your mental well-being when your racing comes to an end.

When did running a hundred miles become a normal every task? Add a hundred mile bike ride and fifty mile run to that and the task becomes immense. Those aren’t normal every day tasks, even running a marathon isn’t a normal everyday task! However, normalizing it is easy to do when you surround yourself with ultraendurance athletes every day and also work with, and associate with, the best coaches in the business. I do this for a living, so it’s easy to see how it becomes normal in our minds.