Sunday, July 8, 2012

Race Report: Running to my fitness

Long story short, I finally ran to my level of fitness or at least my fabulous Lulu Lemon shorts did and carried me along for the ride. The shorts and I crossed the line in 18:27 after running: 3:38, 3:43, 3:43, 3:47, 3:36. It hurt. It was hard. But it felt so, so good.

I'll save you the excruciatingly boring details of complicated race day logistics because everyone, parents and otherwise, have complicated stuff going on. But I will say, getting to the start line this morning was especially challenging and, indeed, very much in doubt until about 5 minutes before the race. My warm-up was far from ideal and happened long before the race to accommodate La Cocotte's 1 km race (8:55 !!). Then there was last minute nursing and escaping toddlers and, oh yes, I said I'd spare you. I was standing near the start line trying to decide whether to race (because it seemed like it was not going to be an easy 19 minutes for hubby) when the organizers started announcing the elites. They brought them out one by one. Clearly they had warmed up properly and were focused. They got to start at the front of the pack. They were mostly women with whom I race all the time, sometimes I beat them, sometimes they beat me. But today the focus was on them. I was just the random mom seemingly on the sidelines who was still nursing seconds before the start, had carried her toddler during the 1 km, and who appeared frazzled.

It hit me. I run better this way. I run better unnoticed. As soon as I have any sort of attention or pressure, sadly, I choke. I was never a championship runner in university. I was a great time trial runner. I have been one of those elite, invited athletes with the free entry and introduction and inevitably I run far slower than the times I ran previously which garnered me the invitation in the first place. I don't run well when things are perfect. When I have the perfect sleep, the perfect warm-up, the perfect conditions... choke. Give me complicated logistics and obscurity and I will shine. Today I beat all of the elites except one. I am sure I would have had a very different outcome had a been one of them. So I`ll pay the expensive entry fee (it`s peanuts compared to what I paid for the Lulu Lemon shorts anyway). It`s well worth it to finally break 18:30 again.


11 comments:

  1. You didn't just break 19, you demolished it. Congrats.

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  2. Congrats!!!! Agree with SteveQ, you demolished it!

    Do you know whether Lulu sells "break 20" shorts as well?

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  3. congrats!!! ... but where is the photo of PPC in her magical Lulu Lemon shorts?!

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  4. Woot, woot! So happy for you. And I am like you - I do so much better when I race without big announcements or pressure. This was a super race for you! Sub 18:30, awesome!

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  5. Nice! And I am the exact same way. So much better performing when I am frazzled by everything but the actual act of running. Congrats!

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  6. Woohoo!! Go go Lulu Lemon shorts!

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  7. Congratulations! What a fantastic time! I think I am going to join mmmonyka in looking for the "break 20" shorts. Perhaps I should spend the time short shopping rather than doing speedwork? ;-)

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  8. Okay! Now we're talking. I was going to say "sigh of relief" but this is more like "WOW! That is amazing- and how fast are you still going to get??" Ha ha. Oops. That perhaps just put pressure on you. So what would help me more: coming to a PPC 5k training camp or Lulu Lemon shorts? Just one more thing- I am so envious of the fact that you actually can show up at a race and people know who you are and make a big deal out of it!! That sounds fun to me. Not that I like attention. ;) I'm guessing they'll be mentioning your presence again now.

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