“FOMO”-Fear of missing out. A look at a very serious running problem plaguing many.
FOMO is real and intense. FOMO may be associated with feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness and in extreme cases depression and uncontrollable crying. FOMO can come upon you when you least expect it. You can be relaxing, enjoying a nice cup of coffee on a Saturday morning while scrolling through facebook or Instagram. Well that will do it!
All of sudden, everyone and I mean everyone is running a race that day. They are not only running a race, they are running “the best race ever” and the “weather is perfect” for a “PR”. Not only that but “have you seen the new medal” and hey there wasn’t even a line for the porta potties this year!
FOMO
How did this happen?
How did I not sign up for this race?
What is wrong with me?
What am I going to do today?
What am I going to post on FB?
Everyone is having so much fun without me!
This was pretty much how my Saturday morning went last weekend when everyone, I mean everyone I knew was running the Rock n Roll DC race. Why wasn’t I running it? Geez good question!
I have a long history of not running the DC Rock n Roll race. Two years ago, I was the Rock n Roll race ambassador for DC. I worked for months marketing their 2015 race and got a huge group of MRTT moms to sign up. It would have been epic except that I got a stress fracture 2 months before. I worked the finish line that day and was honored to put medals around the necks of many of friends. Talk about FOMO!
Last year, in 2015 I was set to rock it again when I got the worst case of plantar fasciitus and couldn’t run for months. It poured down rain last year so still FOMO but not super FOMO.
This year, I was worried about training through the winter and I signed up for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler instead. I had kind of decided I was over Rock n Roll DC. I was over it until everyone and their brother (literally) ran it! To make matters worse it was my rest day! I did my long run the next day but no one was there with chocolate milk and medals afterwards.
So I did what any self respecting mother runner would do-I signed up for next year’s race a year in advance!
FOMO it’s real and it’s intense and it’s not going away.
How do you deal with FOMO?
Linking up with Anne Marie, Nicole & Michelle
linking up with Suzylyfe, Coach Debbie, Running on Happy & Crazy Running Girl
FOMO is definitely a real thing!!! I don’t know how to combat it, but if you find a magic cure, let me know!
I think the cure is just to sign up for everything 🙂
FOMO is absolutely real! I mean, it can be a rest day, I can be tired, then I drive somewhere, see someone running, and wish I was running, too!
Yes exactly! It’s crazy thoughts
Ha! Even though I generally don’t like races, I was jealous of everyone running that race & am also considering signing up for next year!
I know it looked like so much fun didn’t it?
I”m fighting FOMO right now. I’ve deliberately not signed up for any races after Big Sur because I need to heal. But I want to run with my friends. And Chicago is taking applications for the lottery. Nope, I’m looking the other way…
The struggle is real!
OH it sure is my friend I feel you! Stay strong
FOMO is real fo sho. I haven’t missed out on a race yet but I have definitely had some feelings of missing out when seeing other runners post about fun races!
I know it’s crazy but we can’t do all the races-or can we?
I mentioned FOMO yesterday, and it is real. Everyone’s talking about all their year’s worth of races, and I’m over year thinking the smart thing to do is get to my May race and see how that goes before I sign up for more. But there’s that other part of my brain that isn’t interested in waiting.
Oh I know and when you are injured its even harder. Good for you for resisting!
This is so real. I have found myself signing up for races I didn’t even want to run due to FOMO. It’s a real problem lol. Thanks for sharing
I know it’s crazy how that happens!
I never heard of this (fomo) until the other day when Jlo was getting interviewed and she used this term. I though it was pretty clever. But yes I agree. This yr was the first yr we didn’t do Disney Princess race and we thought the same thing. So of course we are doing it next yr.
Oh it’s a real thing isn’t it?!
Oh hugs! I know exactly how you feel because I go through that with every single RnR Race there is. Living where I do in Canada, there are no RnR races near me, yet I seem to have a HUGE number of Facebook friends that do this race series. They sound fun and quite amazing. This year I may not end up doing ANY races because my daughters have very heavy sports schedules. While I LOVE that they are talented athletes and play competitive sports, it makes it VERY hard for me to race too. Social comparison through facebook etc hasn’t been great for my self-esteem so I have been distancing myself from it (which as a blogger is really hard to do). I bet your long run felt amazing!
I know everyone is doing the races! You may need a road trip down here next year to do it. It is hard not compare what you see on FB. My run did feel great thanks and it looked like you had a good one too!
I get major runner’s fomo…. and fomo over other things as well. I don’t know if I really get over it, but as long as I have something planned that is after whatever the event is that I am missing, then I try to look forward to that instead.
Yes! I will join a race last minute because why not, I can’t not do it 🙂
That’s true! So many of them fill up early around here so I am always tempted to sign up
Yay for signing up for next year! FOMO is definitely real and I totally experienced it at various points last year. But I generally try to remind myself of the good reasons I had for not signing up, though they may not seem so good any more!
I know I reasons for not signing up this year but boy was I jealous!
Hah! so true! even though I had that PR the week before at Reston, I was antsy over all the great reports from RNRDC. Our weekend will be here soon!
I know it was so hard seeing all those pics! I was jealous of your Reston run too. Yes our weekend is coming
You’re right — all the cool kids (except you of course) ran RNR last week! But I almost never do it. It’s the weekend of my husband’s birthday, which is my one sacred non-run weekend each year. A small price to pay! 🙂
But I was super happy for everyone who had a fine experience (and there were plenty).
I know my daughter was coming home from college for spring break and I just thought it was unfair for me to go off and run it. She probably would have been sleeping and not even noticed 🙂
Oh, my. FOMO is so real. Heck — I signed up for RnR New Orleans a week before the race! When I was injured, I would try my best not look at the postings. It bothered me ALOT. I just found out yesterday that a half in a neighboring town is THIS weekend, instead of it’s usual April date. Um…
Ha ha you get me!
I know that this creeps up from time to time and I have to remind myself just what it is… FOMO! And not get too warped about it.
Not always easy to do!
I actually don’t deal with FOMO… That being said, I have heard the term used in other contexts and I won’t lie – it gives me a little anxiety when I see it or hear the term being used! ha ha! Sorry, that was vague!
It was vague and I am sure there is a great non pg story there 🙂
I feel like this with travel. I want to be all the places people post about! 😀
I know I have a whole list of places!
When are you running next? I will be at the end with a chocolate milk and a medal just for you!
Oh you! I am running cherry blossom so excited! Then American Odyssey
I get the same thing every RNR race and every Disney Race weekend haha. It can be hard, but I just try to remind myself that I have my own races to run and I can’t physically (or monetarily!) run every race. If I’m meant to run it, I’ll run it another year :).
OH yes the Disney races too! Yours looked amazingly fun
FOMO is so real! Lol There have been a few races that I wanted to run and I get so sad when I see all of the photos and excitement! I wish I could have ran DC this year, too. There’s always next year!
Oh yes and see you there next year 🙂
Oh man… I know that feeling well. Next year’s headline will be, ” How I conquered the RnR-DC.”
I sure hope so!
FOMO is totally real. I can relate, lady!! Sorry about your string of bad luck with the injuries and RNRDC. Boo.
I am feeling great now and ready to crush Cherry Blossom 10 miler in 2 weeks
I’m not even ‘really’ running right now, and I have spring race fomo!
It contagious! 🙂
FOMO is definitely real. I want to run “all the races” too but know it can’t happen. Busy schedules, kiddos, life happens. Sorry to hear about how you couldn’t do RNR DC the last 3 years, but way to sign up for next year’s race!
We can’t do everything right?! Or can we?
Not a runner but I’ve definitely had serious FOMO in the past. I totally get how you feel, esp. your feelings of missing out on a rest day. I think you’re totally awesome though and you’re going to rock next year’s race for sure!
Oh you are so sweet! There is always next year right?
FOMO is such a real feeling. I often get this during Disney race weekends. Kudos to you for committing to RnRDC a year in advance. That low $50 registration fee was pretty tempting.
I couldn’t pass up the $50 race entry!
I’ve had this conversation a lot. I feel strongly that we should ignore fomo when it comes to racing since our bodies can only handle so much! We gotta listen to it even if our hearts wants us to run!
I in theory agree of course it’s just really hard to do sometimes isn’t it?!
This is such a real problem in my world too! I hate seeing stuff on FB or Instagram and feel like I should have done it. Such runners problems.
I know it really is an issue!
FOMO is so real! I was battling a little of it too watching my FB feed – it did feel like everyone was running RNR DC! I love that you signed up for next year – I’ve been debating, but haven’t hit the button …. yet! 😉
Well now you are going to have to! 🙂
LOL! it is serious! Cute post- I was kind of wondering why you did not sign up for RnR but it does seem to bring you bad luck! Hope 2017 is the one for you!
It was either that or Cherry Blossom this year and I was worried about being about to do the 13 miles bc of winter etc. But I did 10 last weekend so I think I am ready!
how interesting..since m not a runner, i have never faced fomo although i want to run a race of some sort at least 1-2 times a year. yayy for signing up already, you go girl!
Thanks! I do think FOMO can apply to anything really that you perceive everyone else is doing.
Ha. This is so true. I ran before the race, spectated & STILL had some FOMO on Saturday. 🙂
I know it’s a powerful thing isn’t it!?
Lol. FOMO is exactly why I’m running my half marathon this weekend…even though I’m not ready. Lol. #FOMO I REAAAAL!! Lol
oh it’s real! Have fun this weekend 🙂
FOMO is so real! Social media will give you the worst case of it. Wishing you awesome luck for next year’s race!
Yes social media is good and bad isn’t it?!
All of the sudden I can’t comment on your page it tells me I am spam. Hopefully you can rescue my comments
I agree its definitely real. Although truth be told it’s the first time I’ve ever heard it put like this, and I like how you describe it!
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’ve had this a lot over the past 3 years as I battled the work injury. I try not to dwell on it much, but I agree it’s definitely a real thing!
I think about the runners who can’t run anymore who loved it so much, and can only imagine what it is for them to watch others to race. Just knowing how hard it is for myself to watch others do it at times.
When you are injured FOMO is even worse than ever!
FOMO is real but I don’t get it. Not in a long time. I would have signed up too. Even if it was a year in advance 🙂
It is real for sure!
Yes yes and yes! and it sucks… sometimes i wish we could go back to the days of less social media so i wouldn’t feel so left out, but then i think ‘welp… i’m glad i get to live vicariously though others sometimes, because i’d never would have known about this race (or whatever) and can plan to do it in the future’ 😉 yay and boo at the same time for FOMO
Yes there are good and bad aspects to it for sure!
haha,I loved this! I considered skipping Rock n Roll DC because I signed up moons ago and didn’t quite fit into my training plan. I made it work with the approval of my coach but I can only imagine how much FOMO I’d have had if I really did skip it!
Yours were some of the pics that game me FOMO!
FOMO is the worst when social media is involved! I signed up to run DC in 2015 but was dealing with an injury so didn’t run it, and this year I decided to run a 5k instead but then ended up going out of town for a baby shower anyway. Seeing everyones race pictures has definitely made me want to race!
Me too! See you there next year?
I don’t live anywhere near DC but I felt like I was missing out too! For me the worst time was a few years ago when I hurt my knee. I didn’t run a marathon for years, and I generally felt okay with the decision, but when a race came along, especially if my husband was running it, I’d get a huge case of FOMO!
I do remember when your hubs was running that race and you couldn’t do it! FOMO has a strong pull indeed
I had major FOMO during the Paris marathon last year which is why I immediately signed up. Signing up for this race will give you something to look forward to all year.
When it comes to FOMO I try not to get too worked up because there will ALWAYS be something going on. Always.
Have a great weekend.
There is always something else to sign up for isn’t there!?
This is so true! I have FOMO often but than I try to look at the big picture and there was usually a reason and I realized I need to be ok with that. I am only one person, I can only do so much, and life isn’t fair and I can’t do it all. Of course there are those times it is because I completely forgot or because of fear and in those cases I need to take that as a lesson learned.
I’m happy you won’t be missing out next year!
Yes it is important to put it all into perspective!
Oh, FOMO’s real alright! I experience it anytime my friends post about marathons. I sooooo wish I could still run them, and more importantly, go on those 20-mile training runs. 🙁
I know it is hard to watch sometimes and they make it look easy too!
I feel your pain. I’m having to step away from FB many a time as I see my friends signing up for all sorts of fun races. My big-deal-whoopie race this year is a 50K so The plan is to run very few races so that I don’t kill myself, I mean, get injured during training.
In the meantime, my list of 2017 races groweth.
wow that is a pretty big deal race for sure!
I totally get it. I kept reading that everyone and his brother was running that race. I wanted to run it too. I almost signed up for next year but I want to get into the NYC half which is around the same time.
So what did I do? I signed up for a bunch of local 5ks. I have FOMO.
I know! I would love to do NYC as well it’s a serious issue 🙂
Haha very true. I am considering RnR DC for next year as well…I PRd there two years ago and I really like the course…on the flip side there is also Shamrock and NYC Half around the same time…a race I like to do again (Shamrock) and a new to me race (NYC Half). Decisions decisions. Seems like people are having great spring seasons so far 🙂 See you in April for Cherry Blossom!
So many races so little time! WE should be having a big MRTT meet up somewhere so hopefully you can come by and say hi at CB