High Expectations

Who wouldn't steal from their mother to have a 30 minute PR in a marathon? OK, maybe a bad example, but seriously, wouldn't that make your race, your day, your season? Well thats what I got. So, why do I feel so bad?

First of all, I'm calling 'no constest' to being a distance runner. Yes, I have run a couple of marathons and even did a 50k at the Jay Challenge, but I'm really a mulit-sport guy. I haven't ever actually 'trained' for a run longer than a 10k. So why did I decide that I was going to make it happen at this year's Black Mountain Marathon? Who knows.

Its just that I finished the race with a 30min PR, 7th OA, 2nd Masters and came away feeling like a failure. It took a few days for me to figure out why. What it boils down to is that my expectations were not realistic. I really had a good training build for this race. The problem was that I just picked a time that I thought I could do (based on nothing). As a second goal, I picked a finish position (based on even less), and a couple of other 'mini' goals. Because of my lack of experience, they were all off the mark. I can give you a dozen 'excuses' why my race turned out the way it did but it was really my best result for that day. And it was not bad. Sure I didn't feel great and my legs felt like lead but I bet all of you true runners out there deal with that a few times a year. Still, its no reason to get down. I compete in several 24-30 hr adventure races each year and can have those same sensations several times in the same race. You deal with it and move on.

The point of all this? Just remember to set your goals high. Do your best, have fun and walk away knowing there is always something more. Put that experience to work on your next event. Thats why we keep on keeping on.

"To give less than your best is to waste the gift"

Cheers....d
BTW. The RocLite 312 GTX was perfect for this race. Rough terrain and a little bit wet and mucky, but nothing over the ankle. Feet stayed dry and comfy.