Woke up @ 7, had my oatmeal and coffee, watched "Busy Town" with Petru and headed out to South Boston. We got lost but made it there on time so I could register, get some awesome swag including a cool race shirt, and warm up for 2 miles. My L hamstring has been bugging me for a week, but I knew that the pain would be gone once I warmed up. It did.
I wanted to run sub 19. I did 5x1000ms with 1 min rest @ 5:20-5:45 on Monday and felt pretty strong. Based on this run, I could have broken 19. The gun went off and I was taken by surprise so ended up running the first 200ms a bit too fast, but settled into a comfortably hard pace. First mile was 6:09. Second mile felt fine and I was passing people (6:09). One woman was in front of me but I was getting closer to her. Third mile was hard. I honestly think I lost it mentally here. It is hard to plan for moments like this, sometimes I can push through, other times I can't. Today I did not. Maybe I did not believe enough, but I know for sure that I did not want to feel more pain. So I ran a 6:16. In spite of slowing down I got closer to the woman who was in front of me. That was the plan, get really close and surprise here. Except that someone yelled at her that I was coming, and with 200ms to go she got her kick in on the uphill toward the finish line and she smoked me. I ended up second, but got a nice $50 gift certificate which made it worth my time.
Oh, and no official PR.
Official results: 3.1 19:32, 6:16 pace.
Garmin results: 3.15 19:32, 6:12 pace.
Oh, and the winner was 16. Happy for her but darn pissed bc I know I could have done better today. Even though I ran 77 miles since last Saturday and I was not tapered, mentally I did not push enough during mile 3. It is OK though. Less than one year ago I was happy to celebrate a sub 20 5K. Now a sub 20 is not enough and I want to celebrate a sub 19, particularly since I truly believe this is a realistic goal for me.
Now, off to run my long run. It's marathon pre training, after all.
21 comments:
AM such a funny read. I cannot believe that you pulled off such a great race on legs with all those weekly miles. Congratulations!
I know you are not entirely happy with this but WOW sure is inspiring for me! This is incredible to me that you were this close to your PR off of 77 miles this week AND you're still doing your long run today. As I've said before, I'm just so excited to watch you GO AM! You've got so much that you have only just begun to tap. Wow. This race will just make you that much stronger and HUNGRIER for the next time you are faced with the end of a race and having to dig deep. Knowing you, you are already drooling for the next opportunity to have another chance of kicking that last mile's butt. HUngry and on fire...a good theme for your season here. :)
Oh, and you got one that was pretty darn close to 3.1. Sweet. And gosh, what I would give for just a little of your mentality...that "I'm going to push myself to the limits even if it means pain pain pain kind of hunger" Send me a bottle of the water you are drinking!!!
Wow, what an impressive time after a week like that. I am seriously impressed.
Of course you want to celebrate a sub 19:) Otherwise there is no point in spending all that time training.
Based on Monday's workout sub 19 should not be a problem. But maybe running 50+ miles since Monday is little too much to actually run sub 19.
There are great things in your running future! :)
Even though you may not have hit a pr, this is still a pretty dang awesome time. You'll get hat sub 19, and it will feel amazing. I hear you about not feeling like you had the power to press the pace, today that is exactly how my 5k went, only I only had 1 decent mile. Tried my best today to heed your advice and just go for it, but I just didn't have it in me today. Sub 19 is out there, within reach just waiting for us.
1 mile race? You are crazy:)
Do you think that you respond well to speedwork? I do, thus I used to do a lot of fast 300, 400, 600 and occasional 800-1k. I did for example all out 10x400m with a complete rest as long as I needed to recover between them (5-8min or so). Basically, I used to do all my intervals all out with full recovery. I know, it is not a common practice in the US but it worked for me.
Btw, standardize tests are indeed crap shoot. After already taking SAT Is, SAT IIs, GMAT, I should know. But I just do not feel good about this LSAT, probably because it was the only shot I get thus it is a lot of pressure.
@mmonyka, I do. I slow down the longer the distance, but I ran some low 4s for 400ms with 1 min rest...I can take a lot of pain for a short amount of time. Thanks for the suggestions:)
WOW! That is fantastic, even though you aren't truly happy. Celebrate the progress and don't be hard on yourself with the push...these races teach us thing (of course) and I know you've walked away with a plan for the next one :). Congrats on the gift certificate, too - how fun! :)
Great job! Have fun with that gift certificate!
Have you ever done the 20 miler - Maine, NH Mass run that I think is in March?
Our paces are so similar! If you run one or two more, I bet you'll break 19. It takes a couple 5ks for your body to get accustom to running 5k fast...great job!
Great race AM! Really, this is a fantastic time PERIOD, much less on 77 miles!! I think VERY few that actually attempt sub 19, run 77 miles in the week prior-ha! This is definitely testament to your actual ability here. Furthermore, to feel you mentally folded a bit and still pulled a 19:32. Damn, you have SO much in you girl. Yes, sub 19 is more than realistic, it's probable, provided you give yourself some slack the days before!!! Congrats again on the cashola which I hope is turned into a Lulu reward;)
I like how you celebrate your 2nd place finish! :) What a huge mileage week to race in. Huge.
I know without a doubt that you can do the sub 19. Just with a lighter week maybe...like a Boston training cutback week. Oh, wait. This probably was a cutback for you. Ok-- I mean a SERIOUS cutback week. :) Taper maybe???
The thing about the last mile...That's the problem with anyone watching a race! I wish sometimes people would be quiet!! :)) Leafy puddles and cheering fans, both are dead giveaways.
Looking forward to your next race, whatever distance it might be ;) . I know you have it in the bag!
Oh yeah, forgot to say I am green with jealousy over your prize :)
You are speedy!
Great job!
http://christy-goingthedistance.blogspot.com/2011/12/mental-toughness.html
I just love to read your blog. Although our racing times are in different worlds, our "racing minds" are very similar in drive to get to the next step.
Never give up, never give in......
I swear the 5k on high mileage so reminds me of myself.....I struggle with my desire to race all of the distances. So many races, so little time.
I am so encouraged by this!! Two years ago I could run 30 SECONDS straight. I whittled my 5K PR from 36 minutes last spring to 24:43 last week, and will run my first marathon in SIX DAYS (eek!). Reading this reminds me that the front-of-the-pack runners are going through the same things mentally as I am. Physical training is only a portion of what this running/tri-ing thing is all about.
Like everyone else has said, you certainly WILL go sub 19. Look at your plan and find a 5K on a cut-back week. That's when you'll do it...and we'll all celebrate with you!! :D
Ginny - yes! I have race commitment issues!
Nice work, even if you feel you could have done better. I share your sentiments after a lot of my races; thinking "what if...."
Nonetheless, I think its a good thing that you felt you had something left after a 77 mile week! I like Amanda's post: stay hungry!! And enjoy your $50!!
As my personal mascot says: "nothing can stop the honey badger when it's hungry"! :)
That is so smoking fast!! Congrats! But yes, you can go sub 19 for sure.
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