Hopeful for Saturday

Saturday will be the first time I have run a road race in almost a year. I know it's hard for most people to understand, including my own family, but I really look forward to the event of racing, including the pain of the effort. I guess it's like game day for a ball player. I don't know about every other runner, but I have a routine the night before and morning of races. It's no big deal, just an enjoyable part of the process.

Last year at the Shelby Bottoms Boogie 5k, I ran 27:36, far off my best 5k of 23:03 a few years earlier. I was once again racing for the first time after a long layoff. This year, I've been preparing carefully, running a little longer and slower, trying to stay somewhat injury free while still getting in decent running shape. I need to drop about 20 pounds to be at a good running weight; that's not happening anytime soon. I have a real addiction to this thing called food.

I ran some timed half mile intervals tonight for the first time, just to try to get a feel for a pace for Saturday. I hope to break 26 minutes (25:38 would be an 8:15 pace - pace calculator @ http://1kc2.sl.pt), so I decided to shoot for about 4 minute halves. I ran 3:59, 3:49, 3:50 and 3:51. Maintaining an 8 minute mile would get me under 25 minutes. I would be pumped to see a number under 25 minutes at the finish. Realistically, it should take 1 - 1.5 minutes more. We'll see on Saturday.

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."
- Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

FOLLOW UP: I ran 25:34 in a steady rain. I was very pleased with the effort and may have had a little left in the tank. I am currently nursing an unfamiliar pain in the upper shin / knee area, so the next race may have to wait a while. I hope to be running again by mid-October. KB