Have any boring articles to read? When I was in grad school, reading journal articles would put me out like a light, no matter what time of day. 🙂

You could try doing a savasana in bed. That always helps me fully relax and go to sleep!

Sometimes I have difficulty sleeping. I did the counting trick, but it only made me frustrated and annoyed…haha. 😉

What works for me is to just *accept* it. I tell myself that one messed up night won’t hurt, and I just close my eyes and refuse to worry about it. I usually end up falling asleep anyways. I think it’s the worrying and anxiety of trying to force sleep that usually causes me NOT to sleep, if that makes any sense at all. 😀

Love your breakfast! And best of luck on the race, you’ll be great! 😀

I have always had anxiety about sleeping – in fact, I just posted about it and what always helps me is finding my ‘happy place’ and taking deep breaths. Also praying nonstop until I fall asleep helps – even if it may sound weird!

Hopefully you are able to easily fix the corral issue!

Fortunately from everything I’ve heard its two nights before the race that is most important, so get a good night of rest in tonight!!!

This might not work because you are married, but I play a game on my cell phone, usually Monopoly. For whatever reason it lulls me to sleep in 10 to 15 minutes. I have a TERRIBLE time falling asleep and this is what works.

I am curious to see what others do because I am a horrible sleeper! It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours for me to fall asleep and I usually try to clear my mind and relax but that is easier said than done.

I’m an anxious sleeper too. I am flying on Sunday and haven’t been getting great sleep because I am nervous!

I used to have a reallllly hard time sleeping. One of the best pieces of advice I use is to only let yourself lie there tossing and turning for a little while. If you can’t sleep, get up and doing something relaxing, like reading a book- don’t turn on the tv or computer though! After a little while, try going to sleep again. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to sleep!

I couldn’t sleep the other night which I was really surprised about. My VP just made an announcement going back to the France division of our company. I wasn’t laying awake thinking about what would become of our country’s division – but more about my career plans. It was all very Dr Phil . . . but eventually I just tired myself out from thinking and went back to bed.

I love this post…can’t wait to see the responses. Both hubby and I suffer from insomnia on a regular basis…his worse than mine, but both annoying nonetheless. My mind gets racing and I can’t turn it off. I like the Dr. Oz idea!

Deep breathing, and then I have this lavender-scented satin pad that I put over my eyes. It is so soothing and helps me relax – a plus for me because I tend to tense up my face when I’m stressed which gives me headaches which really make it hard to fall asleep!

I used to have a hard time falling asleep when I was younger. I always ended up turning the tv on & using the sleep timer. Love the pancakes 🙂

If I really have a hard time falling asleep, I start counting my breaths. Works every time.

I count my breaths — up to 100 — if I’m not asleep by then I read for awhile (normally poems, so it’s easy to stop — last thing you want is getting hooked on a book while you are trying to sleep) — then I try the 100 trick again 😉

Normally the 100 trick works the first time, though 😉

I always suffered from serious insomnia until I STARTED running! But of course there are still the occasional nights when I feel uneasy and can’t sleep. My no-fail method is to have my boyfriend give me a back rub. 🙂 Sometimes I’ll fall asleep within 5 minutes, other times it’s longer. But it is so relaxing and I find that it really helps me to sleep better throughout the night, as well. (Hope the husband is reading this!!)

You might also want to eat foods high in tryptophan today. Tryptophan is the amino acid that, after a chain of chemical reactions, eventually gets converted to melatonin. The idea that food sources of tryptophan make a significant difference is still debated in the science world, but what isn’t? At least it won’t hinder you tomorrow like some pills or supplements might.

Good luck! You are nervous now, but you are going to be on cloud 9 afterwards!

Hey! First of all, good luck at the race and with clearing up all the corral stuff.
I know you said you don’t want to use sleep aids, but maybe for the future, have you ever heard of melatonin? When I have a hard time sleeping, I take one. You can buy melatonin in 1 mg tablets, which is what I use. Melatonin is produced naturally in the body, so it’s not like a chemical that you’re introducing into your body. Melatonin production in the body is usually signaled by a decrease in light, which tells your body it’s time to be getting to bed.

Or to help your body know that it’s time to start getting sleepy, maybe dim the lights in your apartment so you can start to mentally prepare yourself for bed earlier. 🙂

CorralGate 2010!!!

Girl, you’ll be fine. It’s a small issue and they’ll work it out for ya.

I can’t sleep the night before big events such as my wedding day, marathon days or big races, for day of a new job, etc. I also have trouble if I know I’m trying to remember to do something for the next day, so I keep a pad of paper by my bed to jot things down so I don’t forget in the AM!

I’ve been sleeping poorly too lately, mainly because my mind is overactive. I have to try the counting thing!

I usually read before bed. It makes me tired!

My boyfriend is an insomniac and he stays up all night with the TV on. This is more than annoying for both of us but more for him obviously. If you find anything that works for you, keeps us posted. I’m surprised that you cannot sleep as you use so much energy through the day you should be wiped out.

Those pancakes are adorable!! Try to do some really relaxing feel good things today to calm you down. Good luck preparing for the race, I’m sure you will do really well!

Good luck tomorrow!!!

I have an idea for a post – I am marathon ignorant and have no clue what people are talking about with pacers and corrals and how all of that works. I am sure I could look it up on the internet but would love to hear a marathoner’s take!!

If I know I’m going to have trouble sleeping, I take some valerian or drink Extra Sleepytime Tea (that has valerian in it) and sometimes a melatonin on top of that. Works like a charm!

Then I get in bed, put earplugs in (because I become hypersensitive to any little noise), put a few drops of lavender oil on my pillow and my eye cover on.

If all this doesn’t do it, I visualize being at the beach, next to the waves, drawing the word “sleep” in the sand. If I stay focused on this it almost always works.

The counting trick really works! I usually start at 1 though and am out by 20.. it is sooo boring. But you’re not thinking so your mind relaxes.

Another trick that is supposed to work is leaving your bedroom. A change in environment is supposed to help you fall asleep faster! Good luck 🙂 You’ll do great tomorrow!

i really don’t ever have issues with insomnia unless i fall asleep before i get in bed. usually when that happens i just focus on breathing…the sound, the feel, the rhythm…and at the very least it puts me in a restful state and then i can sleep 🙂

I’m stoked for your race tomorrow…you’re going to do so great 🙂

Cute pancakes! 🙂 Good luck at the expo. Hope everything works out.

my mom used to make mickey pancakes! i always sleep bad the night before a big race, im afraid ill oversleep which never happens.
i am so jealous that all you guys get to run this race!!

Oh my gosh, I’m horrible at falling asleep. I’ll lay in bed for hours. I get so mad because my bf falls asleep instantly no matter what and I just lay there, haha. What helps me is to read or lay in bed and concentrate on relaxing every muscle in my body from my head to my toes. I do a body part every time I breathe in and out. When I do that I’m out before I make it to my knees.

I’d say good luck in the race tomorrow but really, you don’t need luck. You’ve prepared so well and put all the work in…you’re ready! All that’s left to do is the fun part. Just go out there and enjoy what you’ve earned! you’ll do amazing!!

Yeah, I find it hard to fall/stay asleep some nights. Doesn’t happen often but when it does, I usually just allow myself to get up and maybe watch some tv or read a book. Then I’ll ususally fall back asleep. If it starts early in the night (before midnight) I usually will take a OTC sleeping aid. Good luck with getting the race situation squared away!

Good luck this weekend. I know you’ll do great. I have difficultly sleeping when I am stressed out. I can fall asleep, but then I wake up and have trouble falling asleep again. I can also be restless all night and not ever fall deeply to sleep. That happened last night. I hope you feel better about your corral situation.

Not sleeping well is horrible! I hope you sleep soundly tonight. Can’t wait to read your marathon recap!!! Rest up!

I have a hard time sleeping when the hubby is gone. He just got deployed for 4 months so I have been employing this method for the past few days since he has been gone:

Say good night to your body parts. I know it’s weird, but I heard about it college, and it actually works. Start with your toes. Say in your head:

Good night, toes. Good night, ankles. Good night, feet. Good night, calves. Good night, shins. Good night, knees.

Do this until you reach the top of your head. Hopefully, you won’t get there because this will be so boring. It has worked for me lately. Good luck! 😉

Ironic, I couldn’t sleep last night after watching that show. I tried the 300 backwards thing and it did not work 🙁 But, probably because I was just so frustrated by not sleeping at that point I didn’t hang with doing it very long.

When I can’t sleep, I can’t just lay there and try. I usually get up and do something like watch tv or read a book until my eyes get heavy, then I try again. I like the counting from 300 by 3’s thing, that would be hard! Good luck tonight 🙂

I actually was and insomniac as a kid (ages 8-10) it was terrible! I learned a bunch of relaxation techniques that worked. But, I haven’t needed to use them in YEARS!!!!

I’m about to have some pancakes, too! Yum!

I too get sleep aniety before a big event.. not necessarily a big race, but anything new or extra exciting that may be looming in the distance. I usually just lay there, or put on the T.V. or my computer. I hope you get everything sorted out at the expo!

Think of it as excitement, not anxiety – that used to work for me!
I always count whenI can’t sleep. Usually breaths or something, something that takes ages…if

Good luck getting your corral changed – and getting a good night’s sleep!

Love the adorable pancakes 🙂

I used to suffer from terrible insomnia a couple years ago. I still get it from time to time. My tricks are waking up early, keeping BUSY throughout the day, eating healthy, excercising, taking a shower or bath before bed and reading in bed to fall asleep.

So sorry you couldn’t get to sleep last night! I had issues with insomnia for years but a doctor gave me a muscle relaxation program (where you combine deep breathing with clenching different muscle groups for 10 seconds, letting go and deep breathing for 30 seconds. Start with your jaw, then your shoulders, then arms and hands, then stomach, then legs, etc. Sorry I don’t have a more specific answer but this helps tremendously!

I swear it’s the simplest trick but it works every time for me. I take 10 DEEP breaths – inhale and exhale as much as you can. If you don’t feel relaxed by the 10th breath do it again. It’s like a mini-meditation and works with headaches too 🙂

Those pancakes are so cute.

I have trouble sleeping before a race too. I figure if it’s just that one day, and not general insomnia, I’ll just nap after.

Meh, ignore the rampant typos in my post. Evidently I’m tired =/

I really hate to play devil’s advocate, but when I read your comment about one of you pancakes being deformed and not blog worthy, I couldn’t help but think of people who have a deformity and how we judge what we believe are imperfections. While I know you are not at all refering to people, but the pancake it made me think of an episode I saw on TLC, called Born Different. They highlighted people who were born with uncommon things such as born with no legs, and a child that does not age who is 17 years old but still looks like an infant.

I guess my question is, does our bias against even “deformed” looking food reinforce the unrealistic standards that society has deemed as beautiful or “worthy”? Or simply show that we are human and we just like astetically pleasing people/things?

i have to say this post title is the best. i definitely laughed out loud when i read it & saw your ‘cakes. 🙂

Sorry you haven’t been sleeping good…it’s the worst feeling being awake when you want to sleep. I usually read or count and it tends to work for me. Good luck!

I used to lay around for at least a half hour before falling asleep at night. My mind goes into overdrive when I try to relax. But now I read before bed. It helps me relax and lets my mind focus on one thing till I just drift off. Love it!

Cute pancakes!!

The only times I have a hard time falling asleep is when I am anxious about the next day – or – when it’s too hot in the room. I have to sleep in the arctic!

Jenn

Hey u ate my boyfriend???:) Ha…his name is Mickey, actually!

Your pancakes put a big ol’ smile on my face! I just love your blog! Congratulations on getting to the start line injury free and ready to go! That is a major accomplishment. I love your choice to run it for fun!

I think you are a list person. So I’d suggest writing down all your stresses/troubles and some possible “solutions” and worst case scenarios. But only give yourself 5 minutes to do this. And then put that piece of paper on your desk to deal with the following day – this helps me clear my mind. That and a hot bath with a glass of wine :-). Have fun on Sunday! Hope you get to high five Mickey!

I highly recommend the “counting backwards from 300 by 3’s” technique. You just have to focus on the numbers, almost visualizing them on a giant scoreboard. Inhale and exhale between counts. If you get frustrated that it isn’t working, start over. This seems to work best when you wake up overnight and can’t get back to sleep. I’ve never counted below 270. It really works!

One other marathon sleep tip: I was at work until 2 am the Thursday night before my first and only marathon on Sunday (also with TnT!). I was completely worried that it would affect my race. It didn’t. You will be fine. Best of luck to you. It will be a day you will never forget and an accomplishment you can be proud of for the rest of your life, so soak it in!

Lovin the Mickey pancakes, super cute!
I’m gonna try that trick next time I can’t sleep!
Hope you resolve your corral problem today!
Jenna

I have trouble falling asleep a lot, or sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep. I haven’t figured out a solution yet 🙁 (well except not drinking 😉

your 🙂

Argh, I want pancakes!

When I can’t fall asleep, I think of the last book I read and go through the plot in my head with me as the main character until I do, hahahaha. I don’t think it’s a good way to fall asleep, but it’s entertaining when you can’t 😀