WARNING--This is a long post!! ( I suppose this is why some people have blogs!!)
Hey all,
so, yesterday i completed my first ever 15 mile run, which also happend to be my first ever 15 mile race...... The run was put on by the local road runners association, designed as part of their "fall marathon" training program. There wasnt a "huge" turnout, definitely less than 100 people. The race starts and i go out fast and hard---prob faster than i have any business going
right off the bat i am running sub 8 minute miles, which eventually work themselves down to 7:00- 7:30 minute miles (i am
not usually this fast)... I fall in with this lady who is NOT running the race, just out on her own, who qualified for Boston, and we run together for a couple miles before she splits off in another direction...anyway, i get to the half way point turn-around, at mile 7.5, and the race organizer is there at the water/aid station, and she yells at me "way to go!! your doing great!! Youre the
3rd place female! "
WHAT THE***?!?!?! ME?!!? I think last year at this race (which was only a 10 mile race last year, i placed like 50th, or some such number). Anyway, in retrospect, i REALLY wish she hadnt said anything, because instead of it providing me with motivation and drive and excitement, it was more like a psychological b***h slap to my face
I immediately started freaking out, convincing myself i went out way to fast (which i did, even though id been able to keep that pace for over 7.5 miles) that it was completely unsustainable, that i couldnt keep it up, that i wouldnt be able to finish...you get the drift...from that point on, my running went DOWN DOWN DOWN--FAST!! By mile 8 i was in fourth, by mile 10 i was like 8th...by the time i passed the half marathon point at 13 miles, it took every ounce of my being to maintain 9:00 to 9:30's, and then even slower, and i started having to take frequent walking breaks. I ended up finishing 10th (which is VERY Respectable, in my opinion
) at a completely unremarkable time of 2hrs 17 minutes and change. I DID however,
PR my 10K time, and my half marathon time, and for that matter, my 15 mile time (only because this was my FIRST time running 15!)
Other than the vary valuable training experience i gained from the race, I have been left with a very loud and nagging thought since i finished it yesterday... How GOOD
COULD i be?!? I mean to say, if i fully committed myself to training to be a "good" runner, how good could i be??
This time last year, i was lucky to be running 10 minute miles (of course, i was 15 pounds heavier) Now, i am able to maintain 7:30's over the course of at "least" 7.5 miles.... If i were to focus on speed, and say, excelling at the 10K distance, how GOOD COULD I BE?? At this point in my life, i am entirely consumed only with FINISHING my first marathon, i dont care if it takes me 8 hrs to do it! This is a goal i am 100% fully commited to. Everyday, day in day out, my alarm goes off at 3:30 in the morning, and everyday, NO MATTER WHAT i do my run.... "im too tired"- i do it! " my traininer made my butt so sore i cant even get off the toilet, let alone run 6 miles"- i DO IT! "My foot is broken"-- i DO IT... If i were to channel the same determination into running fast at shorter distances, could i be good? Could i break 40 minutes for the 10k?? could i break 36?? I dont know.........prob not, but maybe?!?! This has given me something to really really think about, as far as how i train for NEXT summers races.....I will see how my marathon goes, but honestly, i dont ever see myself even being respectable as a distance runner, only a finisher (which is definitely respectable in its own right!!)
This weeknd i have my first 15 miler (for marathon training) so i guess its time i out on my big girl panties, so to speak..... Im very excited to complete it and have the opportunity to push myself farther than ive ever run.....I just hope my foot cooperates!!
