Lesson:
Just because you decide the week of a race that you really want a certain time, does not meant you will get it.
Weird, right?
I "learned" this after running a half marathon in Nashville, but clearly it needed to be re-learned. About a week before the race in Nashville, I decided it would be really cool to break 2 hours. This was not totally unreasonable but quite a stretch. So when mile 12 hit, about 1 mile after the 2-hour pace group chugged past my slowing pace (I started way too fast), I became so sad because I realized I didn't have it in me to run the last mile in the time I needed to beat my "goal time." So I broke down on the side of the race and started crying, then I quit.
Ok, not really. For like 3 seconds I was disappointed then I smiled and realized I was about to finish a 1/2 marathon. I finished in 2:01.
Today was similar, although I missed my goal time, of beating my last 10K time (in June 2012 I ran it in 53 mins, 8:32 min/mile pace), by quite a bit. I finished in around 57 minutes, which is about a 9:15 min/mile pace.
You see, I sometimes forget that I'm training for a marathon, not a 10K, and I didn't put any focus on speedwork lately. I'm also running alone most of the time, unless I'm doing a long run so I'm never going much faster than 9:00 min/miles. Makes it kinda hard to pull out 8:20s for 6 miles. Again, weird.
I started off strong but died around mile 3. I was getting these weird chest pains on my left side that freaked me out so I slowed down. Although I probably should not be too surprised because I gave blood on Thursday. Again, not really setting myself up for success here.The good thing is, like most races, completing this re-invigorated me to get more serious about training and what I'm putting in my body (2 slices of deep dish pizza also may have not been the most ideal pre-race snack).
I also need to realize that if I want to keep getting faster, I need to run with other people. Although I can push myself for a short treadmill workout for like 3 miles, I'm much less likely to push the pace for 5+ miles.
I have several new goals moving forward:
- Get out and try to run with groups, meet people, and find people with similar racing/running goals and paces whose schedules I can work with
- Run another 10K and this time really train to work towards beating my old time. I've run a 15K in 8:25 pace, so I should be able to run a 10K in 8:20 pace, with a little training.
- Although I'm not doing weight watchers, I've been eating fairly well, but not losing any weight, so I want to work on two things: 1) portion sizes with heavier foods (1 slice of deep dish is seriously almost ALWAYS enough, I know this, but its sooooo good); and 2) eating fresher healthier foods.
To achieve these goals,, I made plans to run 6 miles with a girl I met as part of the Lululemon run club on Tuesday morning. I may also end up doing the Shred415 workout on Thursday night in Oz park because last time it was a pretty great workout.
Eric is visiting so he and I went to Mariano's today and we are making fresh tilapia tacos tonight with a cucumber salsa and fresh fruit salad. YUM!
Now I just need to find a 10K to sign up for!
No comments:
Post a Comment