The pre-race dreams started about one month ago. I wish I had better news to report but they aren’t dreams about me winning the race or running a 2:45 marathon-trails qualifying time.
No, my pre-race dreams are ridiculous. And even in their ridiculousness, I still wake-up panicked and uneasy.
The first dream was all about the finish line. That thing that I’m supposed to cross after running 26.2 miles. Yea, I couldn’t find it. I couldn’t find the finish line, even though I’d run 26.2 miles. It didn’t make sense to me. I was surrounded by other runners, and I knew that they were crossing the finish line, but I just couldn’t find it.
The next round of dreams involved an American History exam. Let me start by saying that I haven’t had an American History exam since 2001 (and I have no intentions of ever taking one again). For this reason, I have no idea why I’d be dreaming about American History, or an exam for that matter. In my dream(s), I realize that I have an exam immediately after the race but haven’t had time to study. I wrestle with myself: should I skip the race & study, or skip the exam & race? I always wake-up before I make a decision.
Dreams are a very funny thing. What does American History have to do with running the Boston Marathon? I have NO idea. I’m not sure I ever will.
Either way, I’m glad I’ll be drinking post-race margaritas instead of taking an exam.
The history exam is an interesting twist! I’ve had a dream or two where I showed up to a triathlon without my gear – that freaked me out!
Hahaha, that’s funny! I had a few pre-race dreams and mostly they involve me missing the start!
Mine include, but are not limited to: forgetting my timing chip, somehow winding up running in a completely different town, stopping my garmin at 26.2 and freaking out over the fact that I am NOWHERE NEAR the finish line and having to convince race officials to let my garmin time count, running what appears to be a fast race but I have to pull myself along with a rope, and running a marathon that ends up being a naked scavenger hunt. I don’t even know. I’m sure a dream analyst would have a blast with me. Good luck!!
pre-race dreams are good juju, I’m convinced!
I always have the craziest dreams before marathons!
I have not remembered a dream since having twins. four years ago, most likely because I have yet to sleep through the night. If I were to have a dream it would be about sleeping through the night and being able to quickly run into a Starbuck’s for a simple cup of coffee .Although being a Mom is wonderful trying to do something quick like run into a store is like trying to take three cats to the vet.
You work so hard M, at your job and training for this amazing day, when you put your heart and soul into something like you have, dreams like this are not surprising. Tonight have the 2:45 dream if anyone could make that come true it would be you.
I think Boston is one of the most historic cities, plus, PATRIOTS DAY! It makes complete sense. If you can, try to watch the John Adams mini-series before you go, that will get you exam ready! (plus it’s great and most of it takes place in historic Boston)
Good luck Melody, i know you are going to run amazing and don’t miss the finish line!!!!
🙂
I most certainly have pre-race dreams very similar to yours! I have to run through people’s apartments and houses and everyone is stopping to chat and I am getting really frustrated because I want to get to the finish line. Then I can’t find the finish line and it’s getting dark outside. Sadly, since I will no longer be running Boston, I haven’t had any of these dreams.
YOu are going to kill it! Best of luck! You’ve done such an amazing job with your training and I’ve loved following you throughout this time!
I’d call my pre-race dreams more nightmares!! I don’t wake up for the race or can’t find my way along the course or can’t go any faster than x pace no matter how hard i try…and on and on…
I always dream that I’m wearing the wrong clothes before a race, for example, I don’t have the right sneakers or I’m dressed for a snowstorm and it’s 70 degrees.
Before I ran my marathon, I also dreamed that D.C. decided that it didn’t want to shut down the streets, so they made us run the marathon in a grocery store. 10,000 loops of the cereal aisle. That was a weird one!
I recently dreamed something similar – the marathon was through a friends house and around the local track. How laps around a track would make a marathon? 104 – no thanks! 🙂
I always have weird pre- race dreams. 99.9% of them are bad dreams like sleeping through my alarm clock, having my shoe laces break off, getting lost on the way to the starting line, getting lost on the course, etc. I am sure I have good dreams about the race too, I just never remember those!
pre-race i typically dream about forgetting about the race the night before and not setting an alarm, forgetting all my belongings (GUs, sneakers), etc.
Now i’ve had some funny post-race dreams… specifically, after the 2010 NYC Marathon, i woke up in the morning and my boyfriend asks, “do you know what you were dreaming about last night?” i had to think about it and then i could remember that i was dreaming that i was running the marathon. turns out, i spoke each mile marker aloud all through the night.
good luck next week!
this is too funny! I’m glad I’m not the only one that has weird race dreams 🙂
I would consider an American History exam a nightmare, not a dream. I’ve had dreams where I run the race as normal, but cross the finish line completely naked. That’s not fun for anybody.
Missing the start of the race, not being able to find my car to go to the race, or showing up to the race to run naked! hehe
I think the test-taking dream is very common among many people. I have that dream often. I think that it’s a general anxiety dream- I always seem to have it when I am stressed. Anyway, just be glad you don’t have any more history exams ahead of you!