Race Day Eve

As I'm finally getting the time to really delve into Run Less, Run Faster, and also getting ready for the Super 5K tomorrow, and hoping to finally break the 23-minute barrier, my mind is spinning. Spinning with thoughts of faster races, and also of longer races.

Last week I ran three times, but cut the distance of each run a little, so that my overall weekly mileage only went up by 1.5, for a total of 14 miles for the week. Unfortunately, this did result in some post-run sorness on Sunday and Monday (after my long-ish run of 5 miles). I was discouraged, but my discouragement was tempered a little when I looked back at my running log and did some math and realized that it was time for a new pair of sneakers.

I don't attribute the soreness entirely to the worn-out sneakers - I think I'm still not quite over the hump with this injury rehab - but I'm not going to let myself get down about it. I'm still working through this, and I'm being diligent with my PT exercises and careful with my training, and wearing my orthotics, and I WILL get past this.

I spend lots of time daydreaming about the longer races that I hope are in my future, and the longer training runs, but for now, the focus is entirely on noon tomorrow.

I feel very good about my chances for running a sub-23 tomorrow, but I know full well that I might fall short, too. And honestly, I'll be ok with it if I do. I'll be disappointed, sure, but being able to run even close to a 23-minute 5K right now would be an achievement, considering how little I've been able to truly 'train' for a race like this.

The biggest obstacle to me tomorrow is the first mile. The past two times I've run this race, I've gone out way, way, way too fast, and paid for it dearly during the final mile. My goal this time is CONSISTENCY.

I plan to run a 7:20 pace the entire race. It's not going to be easy. It's a flat course, and I do plan to line up near the front, and it's all too easy to get caught up and go flying down the road at a 7:00 pace (or faster). But I will do everything in my power to resist that tomorrow.

Even with a consistent, steady pace, though, it's going to hurt. There's no getting around that. But I'm ready. I know what it feels like, and I'm prepared.

As I've been running on the treadmill at the gym the past week or two (too much ice and snow to run outside some days), I've been visualizing long runs by the beach on warm spring days, but I've also been visualizing tomorrow's race, and visualizing the clock reading 22:56 as I run through the chute.

Hopefully that vision comes to pass. But if it doesn't, I know it's somewhere in my future. As awful as it's been to deal with this injury, it's definitely taught me to be a smarter, more patient runner, so at least it's been good for something.

Comments

[Wes]

good luck!