Letting It Ride

Another running friend of mine, Jonathon Gunderson, wished me well for 2009 and hoped that I got healthy enough so that I could just 'let it ride' at some races this year. That was the perfect way to say it and that's how I want to look at the races I run in 2009. For the past two years I have been so hung up on training goals and race goals and PRs and age group wins and/or placements. I got in over my head, big time. In hindsight I believe it was my anal retentiveness about all those things that led to my overtraining, injury and then subsequent setbacks. I got greedy and wanted it all... too much too soon.

I am regaining control of my old self by relinquishing control of my old self. This goes back to my "Back to Basics" post a couple of weeks ago. No more racing the workouts and no more beating myself up if I miss a workout. I love to train hard and I love to race, but STRESSING over those things defeats the purpose of running for me. So I am not going to stress over my running anymore. I am going to run, train, race and "LET IT RIDE." Thanks Jonathon!!!

A quick report on my first organized run of 2009: The California 10 in Stockton.

Gorgeous morning, about 35-degrees at the start (0900) and super foggy. The fog stuck to our eye lashes and made us all look like we had white lashes. Did not warm up much on purpose, so that I wouldn't attempt to race.

Met Layla at the start. She also posts on the Runner's World Forums. She set a new PR and got an age group award. Yaaay!

My plan was to run the first 3 miles at 8:00-8:10 pace, then 1-1/2 miles of fartlek (:30 hard/:30 easy), then 1/2 mile recovery, then the next 4 miles at 7:30-ish, then cool down for the last mile (10 miles total). Plan was executed perfectly! I slowed just a tad in the last mile before the cool down, but I'm fine with that.

I felt really good throughout the run, was pleasantly tired at the end, not exhausted. My foot felt a teeny bit sore in the last two miles, but not painful. My new way of thinking is if I feel that sharp pain again, I'm stopping immediately!

I met Allie after I finished. She's another RWOL forum user, and talk about modest! She ran sub 1:05 and she's just a tad younger than me. She won our age group. Superb!

Had a quick post race brunch which was actually soup & salad (so yes, I was starving by the time I left the parking lot a half hour later).

All in all a fun day. EXCELLENT organization and volunteers were plentiful throughout the course. The roads are open to drivers, but they all seemed very courteous to us runners. Two aid stations with water only which is perfect for a 10-miler. I think I'll make it an annual early winter run.

Layla later told me that she heard my name called for an age group award. Apparently I took third in my age group. Fun times!

Thanks for reading!