Last night, laying in bed, I was writing my PR blog post.
Cocky?
Irresponsible?
Mmmm, yes.
Even more so because I spent the last 2 weeks sick and really unable to do anything more than 20-30 min of the easiest of running/jogging/walking/crawling.
But what else was I going to do on one of the sleepless nights?
Quick history: I'm only doing sprints this year. As Coach says, ONLY sprints. And yes, he reminds me often.
What about a half marathon?
"What part of sprint do you NOT understand?" I'm pretty sure that's a direct quote.
Fine. I'm good with that. So, of course, when I ask "If I had to choose between a 5k and a 5 mile race, which should I choose?" I was expecting "5k. You're ONLY doing sprints."
Imagine my surprise when he says, "Run the 5 miles. At some point, you have to see what you can do."
ha.ha. I'll tell you what I can do. I can plug along aimlessly, stopping a few minutes at water stations, talking to the volunteers and doing just about EVERYTHING but racing.
HEY, there's also a 10 mile race.
I could practically feel his eyeballs glaring at me through the computer screen.
5 miles it is.
As much as I want to tell you about the morning of the race (a comedy of errors) and arriving at the race (too much excitement for my little heart), I will skip and get right to the race.
THE MASTER PLAN or should I say THE MASTER'S PLAN
The plan, warm up, bleh. fine.
(When I signed up with Coach, I said, "whatever you tell me to do, I will do. I am handing over the reigns cuz this sleigh has gone off course." BUT, I never said I wouldn't complain along the way. Strength training after swimming, really?
But, I digress.
warm up: YES I REALLY DID IT. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. YAY ME.
The race itself: 2 miles easy, then go for it like a 5k.
piece.o.cake.
For people WATCHING.
Hmmmm, methinks, he doesn't say anything about stopping at regular and sometimes random intervals to for f*cks sake. WHAT IS HE TRYING TO DO TO ME?
I don't really know what happened but the gun went off and everyone started running. Talk about yer spacing out.
la-dee-da.....I'm just trotting along, having a good time. Man, this race was PACKED. Normally, I try to get around people. but NO. I remembered THE MASTER'S PLAN.
At 1.5 miles into my little "easy" run, I start to think "Hey, all I have to do is maintain THIS pace for the rest of the race, and I have my PR.
STOP
NO
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
I cringe and look around "God? Is that you?"
NO. THIS IS COACH. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EXPLAIN TO ME YOUR FINISH TIME AFTER PULLING OFF THAT LAST 5K PR?
Damn playa. Now you're all up in my face during a race?
FINE
Mile 2 hit, and I knew I was supposed to turn up the pace. We passed a water station and my mouth starting drooling at everyone taking a little break, walking through the aid station.
FOCUS
Do you mind? I GOT THIS.
All of a sudden something happened.
I started running faster.
No.seriously.
I start to approach a slight incline. An incline that historically, I have walked.
It's about as steep as a driveway.
No.seriously.
My pace is going to slow.
It's ok. It's a little hill.
I want to PR.
I need to save energy.
It's ok. slow down. Pick it up on the downhill.
Let me say something here. I've run this race more times than I can count for the past X number of years, the course has remained the same. This year, with the addition of the 10 mile race, the course changed.
I like the new course ALOT more.
Unfortunately, the last mile.....the entire mile....is on another slight incline.....wouldn't call it a hill.
I would, however, call it a pain in the arse when I'm supposed to be running my fastest mile yet.
And I did.
I was giving it everything I had. I had sweat running down my face. My arms were pumping. My little legs were going just as fast as they could.
I was so focused on running and making sure I held that pace that I didn't even realize that I was heading toward the finish.
I hadn't paid any attention to my time during the race. I looked only at pace, and well, I'm not really THAT good at math.
I had no idea what my finish was going to be.
OMG. When I saw the clock, I just wanted to run faster, but I couldn't.
When I crossed the finish line, I started crying.
Yea.
Me.
The Beast of Pain....according to a certain someone who shall remain nameless
I thought I'd pull off a minute PR. But I managed a 5-6 minute PR over 5 miles. I still haven't looked at the official results.
I don't have delusions of grandeur.
I know I will NEVER be the fastest AG runner.
I don't care because triathlon is a 3 sport competition, and I'm a really good swimmer and cyclist.
BUT, when you're able to run a race that you've never been good at...and come in with the best time you've ever had.....it can be a little emotional.
I'm celebrating and taking my PR out for a night on the town.
Then, it's back to cussing during workouts again.
