Saturday's race was good,bad and ugly all at once. I just had one of those times that nothing really fell into place on race day. I could make excuses all day as to why I had such a grueling craptastic "race"
*I hadn't felt well the week leading up to the race,and only ran 2x. once was Sunday with the 14 x 1 minute sprints and the next time was Wednesday, just 30 minutes of running slow. better than nothing, but NOT a good running week.
* TOM arrived
* little sleep the night before
*my feet felt terrible the entire race. like shoes too tight,feet too cold. it felt like I had cinder blocks tied to my shoes.
* could not find a good cadence or catch my breath. I sucked wind the entire time.
yadda yadda yadda.....
One thing I do have to say is that I felt off.
I can usually gage my mile times based on how labored I am while running. when I race,i like to feel uncomfortable, it lets me know I am working. BUT when I am sucking wind so much my sides hurt,and im not running even close to race pace???
yeah that's a sign its not going to be a good run. it would be different if I felt that way and was on my way to set a PR. I don't mind feeling like a fish out of water when I know im pushing past my limits.
But oh well, im chalking this up to just things up to just having an off day/week., I missed my marks big time, I felt off cadence and......tired.
a brief run down of the run
mile 1:
(did not warm up before race-I was cold and well,just really didn't feel like it to be honest)I start up front and am take off with the lead pack. my goal is to stay up front,keep a lead and not let anyone pass me after the 2nd mile mark. good intentions,right? I am immediately passed by a pack of women and 3 "old" guys. I feel like I am going really fast, my sides hurt, i cant catch my breath, my toes and feet hurt, my shoulders ache,i feel nauseous.....surely these ppl started out WAY too fast, was I that gullible to chase after the rabbit?? I felt like I was running under a 6min mile pace
I hit mile 1 at 7:03.
I knew right then and there that the rest of the race would suck big fat hairy donkey balls,and I would have a slow time.
mile 2:
was all a mental game. I actually pass a few ppl during this mile and focus on old man #2. at this point I don't know what place female I am. I know im not in the top 3,but i think im still in the top pack. My mindset has shifted to just trying to keep my body moving forward and to quiet the negative self talk in my head.
mile 3 is more of the same. I feel like crap but old man#2 is still in my sight and I try to catch up to him. I do pass 2 females in doing so but right at the 3 mile mark some young gal wizzes by me. I cross the line,feeling so relieved that it was over!!!!! I also got thoroughly pissed at myself, and immediately started the "i cant believe i ran like that,how could i let myself do this" talk.this is something i haven't done in years! i take a long walk to the car,change clothes,and get my head out of my arse.
I really wanted a top 3 overall placing. but i ended up 6th overall female, and 26/986 runners. I did snag 1rst in AG,so the day wasn't all bad!
the way i see it is that having really bad running days will make the really good running days that much better. Here's hoping for a redemption race soon!!!!!!
: )
