They say running is an individual sport.... I beg to differ...
Saturday I ran the 10mile Dam to Dam Sand Hollow race.
Part of me is really disappointed in myself for coming in so much toward the last. I had told my hubby
before the race that I would average 11 minute miles with stretching
breaks and that he would see my in almost 2 hours. so I should feel
great about my results of about 9:43 minute miles.
I
have to keep reminding myself that 4 years ago I could NOT WALK AROUND
MY BLOCK! One year ago I was injured from not training for a half
marathon I decided to do on a whim and I couldn't run at all for several months after. So really - I
should be flippin thrilled!
Why the disappointment in my
results? I have some serious issues...
I struggle with the balance between my competitive nature and just focusing on my own personal journey.
I placed 11th in my division (women 35-40) and like 21st overall in the Women. yup. I was last in my division. :) ahhhh well. there were only 26 women doing the 10 mile race. BUT if I were in ANY OTHER division - I would have placed! LOL! In fact the woman I ran with toward the end and then passed at the finish (Diane) - she finished in first place in her division and I was last in my division.
I started out with a decent pace and kept toward the front half of the pack. I was running with a man named Tony from Apple Valley area - A really TALL man with a great stride and I decided to pace with him. I felt awesome. We talked about his running life. Many Many years ago he qualified for the Boston Marathon and never went and did it. He had brain surgery a year ago. coming out of that he decided he would get back to that place and do it! I love that people I meet doing these events. THIS IS WHY I LOVE RACES! The people I meet always impress me.
About mile 5 I asked him what our pace was he told me just under 9 minute miles. I was like - "crap... I can't keep this pace the whole time. I'm only half way through and I've never done 10 miles before." So I slowed down and he pushed on without me.
I wish I had never known our pace.
About mile 7 my knee started bugging me and I stopped to stretch out. tons of people ran right past me. it bothered me. ugh! seriously bugged me. so I got back into the run and stopped to stretch again. my knee was really bothering me. About this time a man in his 70's caught up to me and said "Don't let me beat you! You had a great pace keep going!" so I did. This man had passed me and I was determined to catch up to him and not let him beat me. no way in hell was I going to let an old man beat the pants off me. LOL - seriously? I have some issues.
SO I ran with a 76 year old man that would yell at me everytime I stopped to stretch "Don't you dare! Keep moving! Concentrate on your turn over and not on your knees! You can't finish after me!"
um..... ok.... I am a sheep - I am a good follower.
I was torn - walk and stretch like I planned and let this old guy beat me? Or Keep going and push through it and make sure some 76 year old man finishes after me. UGH....
So I ran harder and faster than I thought I should and I kept up with the old man until the finish line was close. and like a good little runner I kicked it in and pushed hard to as much of a sprint as this tired body could do with a limp as I crossed the finish.
My thoughts as I crossed: "what have I just done? will I be injured? will I go through another year of not being able to run because of this? crap. why?"
So I stretched and stretched and stretched and stretched. guess what? NO PAIN the next day (well not in my knees anyway and that was the biggest worry)
So I am thanking that man. I assume he MUST be a genius runner of some sort. I keep making up stories in my mind about who he is and what he must have accomplished in his lifetime so that I feel more awesome about finishing barely in front of a 76 year old man. I do thank him for pushing me to my limits. I love finding out that I am capable of more than I thought I was.
Would you like to know the Story I made up about the old guy that pushed me? I think his name is Jim Way. I Don't know anything else about him other than the information I got off runner card. His name, age and city of residence. So my story about him is something like... um.... he was a track coach and ultra marathoner. and he must have some amazing race stories about who he's ran with and all his races. He probably does a few marathons or more every year.... and.... He runs 10 miles a day just for fun. sure... why the heck not? I wonder how close to the truth I am?
anyway, thanks Jim for pushing me.
thanks to Tony from Apple Valley for pacing me and sharing his story.
and thanks to Diane Patrick for being my buddy toward the end and pacing with me there.
They say running is an individual sport. But I have found it isn't. any success I have in any race usually is because I have been pushed or supported by another runner.
