NYRR Scotland Run - Run10k

Moment of self reflection: I was actually ready to allow myself to use the "plus miles" (and the warm weather) as an excuse for not PRing in this race. I've been thinking a lot about this silly phrase I hear a lot (hello, Biggest Loser) about "not being afraid to be great." Which, honestly, I think is the most ridiculous idea ever. Who's afraid to be great? It sounds so corny and trite. I'm not afraid to be great. I'd LOVE to be great!

Anyway, I'd sort of decided to run a "good" race, but not a "great" one. I was sort of on the fence about whether I would PR or not and whether I should even go for it. My last 10k, I held a 7:37 min/mile average. That was back in December, in cooler weather. I decided I should "sub-8" as best as I could and broke free of the crowds after two or three miles--that was the hardest part, since it was crowded and narrow at the start, and I had to push extra hard to get to a 7:50 min/mile average for the first mile.

As I was running this race, I had a weird moment of clarity. At mile 4, I began analyzing my race strategy. In the past when I've tried for a new PR and failed, I look back on my race and think, Really? I didn't have like, :XX per mile faster in me? I couldn't push myself XX measly seconds faster each mile? Did I just not care enough? Did I not feel I could push that hard? Had I given all I had? Had I given too much too soon?

I think part of it is that my finishing strategy (if I really actually have one) isn't great. Either I kick it up too soon, and burn out, or I wait too long and know I could have pushed harder. So this time, I thought about that, about whether I should just gun it at the 5 mile mark or what. And suddenly, the mind games began. In my head, I began doubting I could do that: maintain a kicked up pace for 1.2 miles to the finish. And then I thought about whether kicking it up later than that would even make enough of a difference. And then I thought, well, then why even try? Why not just maintain this pace, at least sub-8 and if you don't PR, then whatever, you don't PR and you ran and extra 7 miles before and it's hot, blah blah blah, it's fine.

And that's when I realized nobody's afraid to be great. We're afraid to TRY to be great ...and then FAIL. And if you don't try, then how can you fail?

This seems like a relatively simple concept, and I'm even sure I've heard it somewhere before. But it really hit me hard... just before mile 5. At which point, I made up my mind to just try. Not that I was ok with the idea of trying and then failing, but that I had to somehow convince myself that I shouldn't even care about the failing. I should just not care. Focus on just trying and, win or lose, deal with the consequences afterwards.

So at mile 5, I pushed. My lungs were burning, I felt sort of crappy from the heat, but I tried to stay relaxed, keep my turnover quick and just concentrate on pushing for the finish. It was a constant stream of "push, push, push" "breath" "relax" "go, go, go" in my head.

Crossed the finish line feeling like I left everything on that course, gulped down some Gatorade and water, wandered around, then MIScalculated my pace in my head as 7:40 min/mile (:03 SLOWER than my last 10k in December--and yeah, I suck at math), felt kind of crummy about it, then thought to redo the numbers after I'd calmed down a bit and realized I shaved :05 per mile off my best time. THEN I felt great!

So, there you have it. I had a really great race. Not just for the PR, but for the mental games I played and won at today. I was wondering how a 7 mile "warm up" would affect my time, but apparently, it didn't make much of a difference.

I now have a little more respect for my brain's role in all this running business, though. Good lesson, glad I learned it on a race course and glad I put it into effect as soon as I got what was going on.

Absolutely nothing.

Well, we were supposed to do "plus miles" ...so, we did an almost-4 mile warm down afterwards. Ran up to the Reservoir, one loop, then back. Then went and noshed at Vynl for brunch. Yum! (Interestingly, the warm down I think totally helped flush out my legs--is that even possible? Barely felt any muscle soreness that day and the day after. NICE).


Great race. Bagpipes at practically every aid station. Lots of good energy. A fun 10k race.