I've tried to start this recap about ten times over the last couple of days and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about the race... So I decided that I'd give the whole 'things I learned' recap format a go:
Thing 1: Don't set high expectations. Clearly, I know this in theory; but it's really hard to squelch high hopes. I felt like I trained as well, or better, for this race compared to last year. I felt healthy (didn't catch a cold from the kids) and had no lingering pain from my hamstring/sciatic injury. Although, I suppose I had a lingering lack of speedwork from that injury.. I was, not so secretly, hoping to perhaps PR around 2:02, thinking that wasn't setting the bar too high because my ultimate goal is to run a sub 2 hour half. Ummm, yah, nowhere near a PR... (final time: 2:07:44)
Thing 2: It's good to have several goals. I had a 'B' goal of improving upon my time by at least 5 minutes. So, I am happy about how far I've come over the last year. I had a course PR of over 6 minutes - 2:13:54 being my time in 2011. But, I did WAY more walking this time around and can't help but wonder how I would have done if I'd just sucked it up and dealt with the pain. At least I didn't re-injure myself, and for that I'm glad I ended up taking it easy; I'm just not really proud of my performance as a whole.
Thing 3: Be conservative when running with a pace group. In hindsight, I think the better strategy (for me) would have been to run with a pace group slower than my goal time and then take off near the end, if I could. With my high aspirations, I started out following the 2hr pacer for the first 5 miles or so. I even went ahead of her from around the 5K mark until around mile 5, when I slowed down to take a GU. Once she passed me, trying to keep up after that point in the course was futile. I knew the hills from hell were just ahead and I started over thinking things and slowing down, rather than trying to catch up. So, I just tried my best to not get passed by the 2:05 pacer. When that did happen (around mile 12) I pretty much gave up on trying my best and realize how ridiculous that is now. Which leads me to...
Thing 4: Do not psych yourself out. Again, big fat DUH for any runner. But, again, sooooo much easier said than done. Since I'd run this course before, I knew what was around most every corner and the double hill from hell weighed on my conscience the whole race. FYI: you climb roughly 50 feet for about a tenth of a mile on Galer Street, only to turn onto Madison for a nice slog up 80 feet over about a quarter of a mile. I ran in fear of this and should have just let it go. When I encountered it last year, I had no idea where the hills would lead or when they would end. So I just kept chugging along and hoped for the best. Wish I could have run it again, for the first time... I planned to walk the first steep part to conserve energy for the longer push up Madison. I've never had problems getting going again after taking a walk break, but after that hill I took walk break after walk break. I need to get over scary hills somehow, as that was my mojo killer for the See Jane Run Half as well.
Thing 5: I'm not a speedster: never have been, might not ever be. Not that I learned this fact recently, per se. It's just that I learned that I'm a-OK with being pretty average; it does not detract from my love for running. This race solidified the fact that I like running for running's sake; I've said it before, that I enjoy my solo outings on the trail as much (or more?!) than racing.

Yes, I will keep trying to improve. Of course I will! But running is more than a race that's a drop in the bucket of your day (or maybe a quarter of your day if you're doing a marathon). It's the weeks and weeks of long runs, tempos and fartleks. And if you aren't into that, well, it's time to try Crossfit or something different (<- shout out to my dear friend who smoked me by nearly 10 minutes without any training, other than being a Crossfit badass and naturally speedy). I don't always have to chase a PR; there are other ways to challenge myself - hello, marathon and relay next year! And, maybe one day I will get into triathlons...
Thing 6: Running peeps can help you put your head on straight. Yes, I've talked before about the awesomeness of the running community, and it bears repeating. If it weren't for my running brethren, I would have gone home beating myself up. After making my way to the recovery area and getting some post race fuel, I spotted three Oiselle teammates who would absolutely not let me wallow in my mopey rant about walking too much, and gave me high fives on my course PR.
So much genuine support and camaraderie from these gals. Even though I was most certainly the slowest of the team (being out-run by as much as 45 minutes (!) by 2nd place finisher Sarah, or the other Sarah who signed up at the last minute and finished in 1:49:34, or Jacquelyn getting her PR in 1:32:01 and Meghan PR'd with 1:34:06), I know they all have my back.
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Post Barrio brunch - delishhhh! Photo also stolen from Sarah, she's the best picture taker! |
And I leave you with:
(Random) Thing 7: The Seattle Marathon Expo is a pretty fun outing for kids: samples!, medals!, cowbells! (grrr... still listening to the cowbells at home), and a visit with Santa!