I have to share my running story of the week. Saturday was the 5/3 Riverbank Run and I had a great run!!!
I worried all week about the weather - the forcast was 39 degrees at the start, with wind and rain all day long! As I was laying in bed I was listening to the wind and rain and thought this was going to be a rough day. As it turned out, the rain stopped about 6 am, the wind was still blowing, but at least I wouldn't be wet and cold! As it turned out, we didn't feel to much wind as we ran out of town, and when we ran back, we had the wind at our backs...No problem at all!
My goal for 25k (15.5 miles) was under 2 hours. I went out with the 2 hour pace group, and when I got to the first mile they were at 8 minute miles. (I have small GPS watch that gives me my mileage and pace) I knew I needed to be faster than 8 - I needed 7:45's to be at the 2 hour mark. So I picked it up a bit, ran a 7:40 7:35 and even a 7:30 mile. I was feeling pretty good and I knew as long at the pace group was behind me, I should be OK.
I had an "ah ha" moment this race...the day before the race, the race director send out an email with some running tips. One was "don't worry about how far you have to go, just think about completing the mile you are on". I knew I have heard that before, but it really stuck with me...I had to run hard to keep this pace, but at mile 5 I was thinking "just hold this pace to 6" at 8 - hold to 9 and so on...I just kept telling myself to just hold on to the pace for one more mile...it really worked!! I was staying at my pace!
At the half way point there was a race clock and it showed I was exactly at one hour - So I knew I couldn't let up and maybe even had to step up the pace a bit. I didn't panic, but did try to bump up the pace a tiny bit. I continued the mile by mile thing...My overall pace on the GPS was holding at 7:40 so I figured I was on track. I kept thinking don't let up, keep this pace one more mile, etc. With .5 mile to go (mile 15), the race clocks were at 1:56. I knew if I could manage faster then an 8 minute mile (the last half mile would then be 4 minutes,) I'd be at 2:00 and I should be good. Half more mile - I could do it...I felt strong as I saw the finish and even kicked in a bit for the last 100 yds or so. My time when I crossed the finish was 1:59:55!! I made it - just barely, but I made it! This is not my fastest time for this run - I ran it in 1:56 11 years ago...
Later on in the day I looked up my official time and it was 1:57:28 - but I think there was a screw-up with the timing system. I won't tell anyone (OK - I told a few people) but I certainly won't attempt to change it.
I really learned a lot doing the mile at a time thing, I Guess it's a good lesson to apply to lot's of things...Grandma's Marathon is in less then 6 weeks and this was a big confidence boost! If I can keep to 8 minute miles there, I will qualify for Boston. No easy task, but maybe Mile by Mile I will get it done.
Thanks for reading cats!
