I hope. I think. We'll see. Wish me well.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 = Not Much Running
I hope. I think. We'll see. Wish me well.
Friday, September 23, 2011
New Balance Gets Minimal Trail Running
For a big-time shoe company, I'm very impressed with New Balance. I run mostly trails and I want a "barefoot" style trail shoe--lightweight, minimal support & cushioning, reasonable traction, wide forefoot, flexible, with a low heel (preferably zero drop). Other companies make their trail shoes like huge army boots...they just don't get it! New Balance seems on the right track. Check out these two short videos from the company (via Running Warehouse) advertising their upcoming MT00 (March 2012) and MT110 (January 2012). If I can just wait until next year, these may be my dream shoes!
MT00 (zero drop and 4.4 ounces):
MT110 (4mm drop):
MT00 (zero drop and 4.4 ounces):
MT110 (4mm drop):
Thursday, September 22, 2011
What Does It Take to Be an Ultra Runner?
I know a lot of you runners out there want to be an ultra runner. Right? What does it take? It's actually very easy...just run an ultramarathon. The minimum requirement to be considered an ultra runner is to finish an ultra race. That means any race distance over 26.2 miles. The most common ultra distance is 50K (31 miles), but you can find shorter ones at non-traditional distances like 28 or 30 miles. Remember that it needs to be a race, not just a training run. Don't go for a long hike thinking it'll count. You need an advertised race with at least a couple finishers. Complete that event and you are now a member of a special running club...ultramarathoner!
Of course, finishing a race of over 26.2 miles is the MINIMUM requirement to join the club. If you really want to be an ultra runner, you should satisfy a few more criteria:
1. Go longer. Finish at least a 50km race, preferably on trails. Roads and track are fine, but a tough trail run really shows your ultra abilities. Step up to 50 miles or 100K for extra bragging rights. 100 miles? Sweet.
2. Lose a toenail. Blisters are cool, but you need to lose a toenail or two before you're really a certified ultra runner. Save the toenail to show your friends. Make a necklace out of them and you're a running god.
3. Get lost during an ultra race. Running the full race distance is great, but getting lost and tacking on a few extra miles is awesome. The race director won't even bill you for the extra mileage.
4. Eat or drink something odd during your race. Chia seeds? Sushi? Home-made sports drink? Nice. Chips, pretzels, and cookies are fine, but Mt Dew and a veggie burger are super-duper.
5. Do a training run longer than a marathon. Run it by yourself for extra street cred. Make sure your friends and co-workers know you completed such a freaking long run.
6. Volunteer at an ultra. Help with runner check-in, staff an aid station, pace or crew a fellow runner. Earn extra points if you volunteer through the night at a 100 mile event.
7. Have a designated "ultra shoe." Don't we all have multiple running shoes? If you have one reserved for ultra races then you are a real ultra runner. If you run ultras barefoot, I bow before you.
8. Carpool to a distant ultra with friends. Pack a car full of running gear, snacks, crazy runners, and a map. Hit the road, grab some grub, sleep on a hotel floor, wake up early and run, run, run. Cheapest vacation you'll ever experience.
9. Run a local "fat ass" ultra race. These are low-key, no-fee, fun runs that happen to be really long. Don't have one in your area? Start one!
10. Start a blog and post about your running adventures.
11. Bonus criteria...have a DNF at an ultra event. We need to strive for the impossible and that means occasionally failing..."did not finish" is a badge of honor.
I've done all of the above, except one. Ten out of eleven ain't bad! See, it's easy to be an ultra runner. What are you waiting for...get going!
Of course, finishing a race of over 26.2 miles is the MINIMUM requirement to join the club. If you really want to be an ultra runner, you should satisfy a few more criteria:
1. Go longer. Finish at least a 50km race, preferably on trails. Roads and track are fine, but a tough trail run really shows your ultra abilities. Step up to 50 miles or 100K for extra bragging rights. 100 miles? Sweet.
2. Lose a toenail. Blisters are cool, but you need to lose a toenail or two before you're really a certified ultra runner. Save the toenail to show your friends. Make a necklace out of them and you're a running god.
3. Get lost during an ultra race. Running the full race distance is great, but getting lost and tacking on a few extra miles is awesome. The race director won't even bill you for the extra mileage.
4. Eat or drink something odd during your race. Chia seeds? Sushi? Home-made sports drink? Nice. Chips, pretzels, and cookies are fine, but Mt Dew and a veggie burger are super-duper.
5. Do a training run longer than a marathon. Run it by yourself for extra street cred. Make sure your friends and co-workers know you completed such a freaking long run.
6. Volunteer at an ultra. Help with runner check-in, staff an aid station, pace or crew a fellow runner. Earn extra points if you volunteer through the night at a 100 mile event.
7. Have a designated "ultra shoe." Don't we all have multiple running shoes? If you have one reserved for ultra races then you are a real ultra runner. If you run ultras barefoot, I bow before you.
8. Carpool to a distant ultra with friends. Pack a car full of running gear, snacks, crazy runners, and a map. Hit the road, grab some grub, sleep on a hotel floor, wake up early and run, run, run. Cheapest vacation you'll ever experience.
9. Run a local "fat ass" ultra race. These are low-key, no-fee, fun runs that happen to be really long. Don't have one in your area? Start one!
10. Start a blog and post about your running adventures.
11. Bonus criteria...have a DNF at an ultra event. We need to strive for the impossible and that means occasionally failing..."did not finish" is a badge of honor.
I've done all of the above, except one. Ten out of eleven ain't bad! See, it's easy to be an ultra runner. What are you waiting for...get going!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Evergreen Lake 50K Race Report
The course consisted of 2 loops around Evergreen Lake. The trail was a combination of single-track through forests around the lake, well-worn grass/dirt trail in a few open areas, and very uneven grass "paths" around the park. There were small sections of road to connect the various trails. Except for the wobbly grass sections, it was a nice variety of terrain. While there were a few hills, nothing was too tough and the course was actually pretty fast (except for those uneven grass areas). I am quite certain that the advertised 50K distance (31 miles) was actually more like 32-33 miles. My Garmin GPS watch registered 31.4 miles...and it always under-measures trails. I was running pretty well, and thought I was on pace to finish around 5:05-5:15, but the finish line never came! I would love to see the course altered next year to minimize the uneven grassy sections and maximize the single-track trail. Otherwise, I enjoyed the location and course.
For a first-time race, I felt it was well-organized. There were 4 basic aid stations on the loop (including the main start/finish area), parking was adequate and close to the start, the registration check-in went smoothly, and the race start was managed nicely (the director delayed the start a few minutes to allow us a little more daylight so we wouldn't need headlamps on the trail). The course itself was marked with painted arrows on the ground, ribbons tied to trees, and pie-plate on stakes. Occasionally, there would also be course marshals at intersections. I had never run the trails before, but found all markings adequate...with only one exception. One fairly sharp left turn (that I took correctly by seeing a ribbon further up the turn) was not marked well (no arrows on ground, no pie plate) and at least a couple of runners incorrectly continued straight on the trail. Even taking the correct turn, I felt uneasy--I stopped and started walking back to the intersection, then found a runner coming toward me who was confident we were on track. To the RDs credit, on the next loop, this spot was extremely well marked. Well done.
On my first loop, I intentionally held back a bit so I would have something left for the second half of the race. While I wasn't super confident, I thought with intelligent pacing, I might have a great day and finish around 5:10. I kept checking my heart rate monitor and slowed if it showed I was above 150. I ran with a small group of about 4 runners most of that first loop.While there weren't many runners in the race, I could almost always see someone in front of me and someone behind me on this first loop. The second loop was a bit more lonely. A steady light rain started about two hours into the race and continued on and off the rest of the day. It felt good to run in the drizzle and it kept the temperatures cooler (overcast, drizzly, and in the low 60s all day). Unfortunately, that same light rain started to make the course slippery in spots. The wooden bridges were very slick and the hard packed dirt didn't get muddy...just extremely slippery...especially on the hills. As the race went on, I kept thinking my GPS was probably measuring things short and the actual distance covered was a mile or so more than being reported on my watch...which gave me hope that the finish line would appear sooner rather than later. This helped keep me motivated to run the best I could and strive for that elusive PR. Once the 5:00 mark was passed, and I was not near the finish line, I started to give up hope. Then 5:05, 5:10, 5:15 came and went...and I was still not done. Oh well. No PR. No problem. At least I'll break 5:30 for the 50K...or so I thought. I reached the final major trail turn that led to the uphill finish...and my watch read 5:27...my sub-5:30 was within reach! I pushed hard on the continuous uphill trail to the finish...but every turn failed to reveal the darn finish clock. Finally, the finish line revealed itself...and my watch read 5:30. I finished in 5:30:16. Damn.
The race director gave me my finisher award--a nice arrowhead necklace with small charm indicating the race name and date. And, as a top 5 male finisher, I was given a groovy walking stick. Very cool. I was done, uninjured (except for one blister), and satisfied with a strong effort that likely would have been equal to a 5:15 or better on a true 50km course. Yeah, I still think the course was long by 1-2 miles...but it's OK. I plan on returning for the second year of this fine event. And I'll know what to expect.
Things I would change to make the race even better:
- Start at 7am instead of 6:15am
- Decrease the use of uneven grassy sections
- Aid stations include more food/drink items
- Mark the major turns with extra attention
- More post-race food and drink
- Add mile markers--even if just at aid stations
- Re-measure and make it closer to 50km!
Here are a few stats from my Garmin GPS/HR watch:
Average HR = 146
Max HR = 161
Calories burned = 4200
Elevation gain = 3246 feet
Distance covered = 31.4 miles
Overall, this was a very good first-year ultra race. For a reasonable race fee ($50), I received two shirts, a walking stick, finisher necklace, and a varied 50K+ course. What more can you ask for?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
McNotAgain 30 Miler is Back!
McNotAgain 30 mile trail race is back this fall!
Let me rephrase that statement...I will be back again for the McNotAgain 30 mile trail race!!!
The race will be held at McNaughton Park in Pekin, IL on October 29, 2011. This will be the third year for the event. The previous race director, Mike Siltman, told me earlier this year that he wouldn't be continuing the race...but the race survives! CITRA (part of the Illinois Valley Striders) has taken it over and they should keep that "home town" feel that drew me to the event the first two years. I look forward to coming back YET AGAIN to the McNotAgain race. Good news. If you aren't ready for the 30 miler, they still have the one-loop 10-mile alternative. This is your chance to experience the great 10-mile McNaughton Park trail loop in the nice fall weather...without the nasty spring mud that normally accompanies the Potawatomi 50-100-150 mile race each April.
So my fall ultra schedule is now getting full:
Sept 18: Evergreen Lake 50K
Oct 8: Farmdale 33 Miler
Oct 29: McNotAgain 30 Miler
Wish me good luck. I may need it by October 29. Should be a nice series of races to test out my new Altra Instinct shoes...if they get their web site back up and operating so I can buy a pair! Main Altra web site is up, but not the product pages. Darn.
Let me rephrase that statement...I will be back again for the McNotAgain 30 mile trail race!!!
The race will be held at McNaughton Park in Pekin, IL on October 29, 2011. This will be the third year for the event. The previous race director, Mike Siltman, told me earlier this year that he wouldn't be continuing the race...but the race survives! CITRA (part of the Illinois Valley Striders) has taken it over and they should keep that "home town" feel that drew me to the event the first two years. I look forward to coming back YET AGAIN to the McNotAgain race. Good news. If you aren't ready for the 30 miler, they still have the one-loop 10-mile alternative. This is your chance to experience the great 10-mile McNaughton Park trail loop in the nice fall weather...without the nasty spring mud that normally accompanies the Potawatomi 50-100-150 mile race each April.
So my fall ultra schedule is now getting full:
Sept 18: Evergreen Lake 50K
Oct 8: Farmdale 33 Miler
Oct 29: McNotAgain 30 Miler
Wish me good luck. I may need it by October 29. Should be a nice series of races to test out my new Altra Instinct shoes...if they get their web site back up and operating so I can buy a pair! Main Altra web site is up, but not the product pages. Darn.
Monday, September 12, 2011
I Have Endurance and Speed
I have endurance and speed, but I lack running stamina. I can go long...marathon, 50K, 50 miles, 100K, even 100 miles...but it'll be painfully slow. I have short distance speed--5K easily under 20:00, but I can't carry my speed to longer distances. I need to work on keeping a reasonable pace for a reasonable distance.
In my mind, the best combination of endurance and speed is the half-marathon. That's where stamina wins out. It's not pure speed, but you still need some quickness. It's not really long, but you still need an endurance base. I don't have any half-marathons on my racing schedule, but I can do some tempo-ish runs in that range. I'm thinking lots of 10-13 mile runs will do me more good than short intervals or long endurance runs. And I'm speaking as an ultramarathonn guy. I definitely need the long runs, but those may naturally come in the races themselves. I run enough ultras (8-10 per year) that I can probably keep a good endurance base going throughout the year with just those races. What I need is stamina.
My master plan for the next 1-2 years is to set personal records at every race distance from 5K to 100 miles. Ambitious...but possible. Dream big! To accomplish this feat, I need stamina. For the rest of this year, I will incorporate more 10-13 mile trail runs done at around marathon pace. I still have two ultramarathons this year too. The ultras will keep my endurance, the up-tempo medium runs will build stamina...and maybe I'll throw in a short race (5K or 10K) to test my speed. Good plan?
2012 is going to be a GREAT YEAR. Heck, the rest of 2011 is going to be great too.
In my mind, the best combination of endurance and speed is the half-marathon. That's where stamina wins out. It's not pure speed, but you still need some quickness. It's not really long, but you still need an endurance base. I don't have any half-marathons on my racing schedule, but I can do some tempo-ish runs in that range. I'm thinking lots of 10-13 mile runs will do me more good than short intervals or long endurance runs. And I'm speaking as an ultramarathonn guy. I definitely need the long runs, but those may naturally come in the races themselves. I run enough ultras (8-10 per year) that I can probably keep a good endurance base going throughout the year with just those races. What I need is stamina.
My master plan for the next 1-2 years is to set personal records at every race distance from 5K to 100 miles. Ambitious...but possible. Dream big! To accomplish this feat, I need stamina. For the rest of this year, I will incorporate more 10-13 mile trail runs done at around marathon pace. I still have two ultramarathons this year too. The ultras will keep my endurance, the up-tempo medium runs will build stamina...and maybe I'll throw in a short race (5K or 10K) to test my speed. Good plan?
2012 is going to be a GREAT YEAR. Heck, the rest of 2011 is going to be great too.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Good Things Take Time
"Good things take time. Impossible things take a little longer."
-Percy Cerutty (famous running coach)
Fits with my recent running philosophy focusing on developing aerobic fitness. Lydiard, Maffetone, Van Aaken, and now Cerutty. Actually, Percy was the first in this line of great distance coaches. Glad my current thinking falls in line with the greats from the past. No short cuts in running. You need time to develop your aerobic potential. If you want to be a better runner, run more. Run aerobically...no need for speed until you've laid that solid aerobic foundation! Feel free to dream the impossible...but give it time to happen.
-Percy Cerutty (famous running coach)
Fits with my recent running philosophy focusing on developing aerobic fitness. Lydiard, Maffetone, Van Aaken, and now Cerutty. Actually, Percy was the first in this line of great distance coaches. Glad my current thinking falls in line with the greats from the past. No short cuts in running. You need time to develop your aerobic potential. If you want to be a better runner, run more. Run aerobically...no need for speed until you've laid that solid aerobic foundation! Feel free to dream the impossible...but give it time to happen.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
If You're Not First, You're Last
In my last post ("Why Do We Race?"), I mentioned that most of us (all of us?) are not going to come in first place when we race. We won't win. That reminded me of my favorite movie, Talladega Nights: Ballad of Ricky Bobby. It's a great movie...think it won an Oscar...for BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME! And there is a famous line from that movie..."If you ain't first, you're last." Kinda fits with my theme from last time of "you are not a winner." It's funnier from the movie (in both clips the tagline comes at the end):
So, if you ain't first, you're last! But being last ain't so bad...as long as you enjoyed the journey. Get out there, go fast, have fun, and enjoy. You won't be first...but last place is OK. Some even give it a fancy acronym...DFL (dead f*!#ing last). Consider yourself a semi-professional racer. Who knows. Train right, piss excellence, and you may become a big hairy American winner.
PS: Later in the movie, the father and son talk about this motto---and the father says it's nonsense...of course there are other places than first and last...you can be second, third, fourth...
WATCH THE MOVIE. Hilarious. Who doesn't like Will Ferrell? He's funny and he's run a marathon.
So, if you ain't first, you're last! But being last ain't so bad...as long as you enjoyed the journey. Get out there, go fast, have fun, and enjoy. You won't be first...but last place is OK. Some even give it a fancy acronym...DFL (dead f*!#ing last). Consider yourself a semi-professional racer. Who knows. Train right, piss excellence, and you may become a big hairy American winner.
PS: Later in the movie, the father and son talk about this motto---and the father says it's nonsense...of course there are other places than first and last...you can be second, third, fourth...
WATCH THE MOVIE. Hilarious. Who doesn't like Will Ferrell? He's funny and he's run a marathon.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Why Do We Race?
I've written many times on this blog about why I, or others, run. Lots of good reasons. Stress relief, fitness, weight loss, socializing, lower cholesterol, strengthen heart and lungs, prepare for a race, etc. All good reasons...and that last one, "prepare for a race," intrigues me. Why do we race?
Let me me blunt. When it comes to racing, you are likely a loser. There is only ONE winner in a race. The first person to cross the finish line is the winner. Doesn't matter if they are male or female, young or old, first timer or veteran...only ONE person wins. They are the fastest on that day. We have a tendency to falsely create the appearance of many winners--particularly with age groups and genders. Nonsense! One person wins, the rest lose. Everyone may make a valiant effort, but that is not the same as winning. We can all have the courage to train and step up to the starting line, but only one covers the course the quickest. They are the winner. The rest of us are not winners. So if you are reading this blog, and your name is not Scott Jurek or Jilian Kornet or Geoff Roes or Tony Krupicka (insert a few other winning ultra marathoners...and a few track stars...and road racers), then you are not a winner. I feel bad calling you a loser...so let's stick with "not a winner." Understood? This includes me too. Best I've ever done in a race is 3rd overall. Plenty of age-group wins. Tons of age-group awards and lots of top 10% overall finishes...but no victories in a race. I am not a winner.
This is all kind of sad, eh? Maybe. I find it cathartic and freeing. Once we realize we are not going to win a race---don't we all known this--we can then decide to race for "other" reasons. Or not race at all. So, why do we race? Races cost money, take time, and interfere with other life activities. What are we getting back in return for that time, effort, and money? Remember, we are likely not going to win the race. OK, OK...no overall victory, but we may have other reasons to race. Here are a few:
Set a personal record. I can always compete against myself, current and past, to see if I can set a new personal best. That's a lofty and admirable goal. Each year brings us closer to death's door...but we can strive to improve and race better.
Win your age group. I may not be able to keep setting PRs, but with age groups, I can always try to be competitive with my peers. Not a bad idea! We all inevitably age and become slower...but we can challenge age-group friends at every race.
Socialize. Why all the emphasis on competing? Why not relax, enjoy the race, and meet new running friends? And reunite with old running buddies? Sounds good to me! Races are fantastic social events that round us up to start together, see us run the same course, then hang out at the finish area eating, drinking, chatting, and celebrating the winners...or at least the one winner and other fine performances.
Test ourselves at a new race distance. I suppose this would automatically qualify as a "personal best" attempt since it's your only race at this distance, but it's more than that too. We may not be confident in even finishing the distance---that's called a DNF (did not finish). It's very possible at an ultramarathon. Think you can't run a marathon? You can. What about a 50K? Sure. 50 miler? Why not. 100K? Yep. 100 miler? With the right training and discipline, almost any race distance is possible. Humans need to push themselves to find their limits...you can go farther than you think. And at a race, you'll have extra motivation and support to set a new "distance" personal record.
As we get older, we tend to slow down. Our running and racing suffers. Fortunately, there are many good reasons to race and we can still challenge ourselves, and our peers, to see how fit we are. In fact, there's another way to level the playing field and test our selves against everyone at the race at the same time--age-graded standards and race handicapping. With adjustments to our actual finish time based on two important factors (age and gender), we can compete "equally" across the entire race spectrum. We can determine who is the "overall" winner with scientifically determined adjustments. For me, this is cool and I wish more races did this adjustment. Personally, I think there should be two winners of every race--the first person to cross the finish line and the fastest WAVA-adjusted finisher. In some cases it could be the same person. WAVA = "World Association of Veteran Athletes." WAVA has now transformed into World Masters Athletics. Still, I call the conversion the WAVA calculator.
Here is a WAVA calculator where you can enter your race distance, time, age, and gender and dermine it's "adjusted score."
http://www.pinebeltpacers.org/AgeGrade/newwava.html
So, I stand by my declaration that there is only one "winner" in any race. Although I'm fine with declaring a WAVA-adjusted winner too. I'd be proud to fall in either category. We have many reasons to run and many reasons to race. Just don't fool yourself into thinking you'll win. You won't. But we can all still race. Give it your best, enjoy, and be proud of what you've achieved. Maybe you'll make a new friend. Set a personal best time. Win your age group. If nothing else, pick out a slow running friend and take comfort in crushing them! It's the small things in life that make it worth living. Enjoy your running and racing.
Let me me blunt. When it comes to racing, you are likely a loser. There is only ONE winner in a race. The first person to cross the finish line is the winner. Doesn't matter if they are male or female, young or old, first timer or veteran...only ONE person wins. They are the fastest on that day. We have a tendency to falsely create the appearance of many winners--particularly with age groups and genders. Nonsense! One person wins, the rest lose. Everyone may make a valiant effort, but that is not the same as winning. We can all have the courage to train and step up to the starting line, but only one covers the course the quickest. They are the winner. The rest of us are not winners. So if you are reading this blog, and your name is not Scott Jurek or Jilian Kornet or Geoff Roes or Tony Krupicka (insert a few other winning ultra marathoners...and a few track stars...and road racers), then you are not a winner. I feel bad calling you a loser...so let's stick with "not a winner." Understood? This includes me too. Best I've ever done in a race is 3rd overall. Plenty of age-group wins. Tons of age-group awards and lots of top 10% overall finishes...but no victories in a race. I am not a winner.
This is all kind of sad, eh? Maybe. I find it cathartic and freeing. Once we realize we are not going to win a race---don't we all known this--we can then decide to race for "other" reasons. Or not race at all. So, why do we race? Races cost money, take time, and interfere with other life activities. What are we getting back in return for that time, effort, and money? Remember, we are likely not going to win the race. OK, OK...no overall victory, but we may have other reasons to race. Here are a few:
Set a personal record. I can always compete against myself, current and past, to see if I can set a new personal best. That's a lofty and admirable goal. Each year brings us closer to death's door...but we can strive to improve and race better.
Win your age group. I may not be able to keep setting PRs, but with age groups, I can always try to be competitive with my peers. Not a bad idea! We all inevitably age and become slower...but we can challenge age-group friends at every race.
Test ourselves at a new race distance. I suppose this would automatically qualify as a "personal best" attempt since it's your only race at this distance, but it's more than that too. We may not be confident in even finishing the distance---that's called a DNF (did not finish). It's very possible at an ultramarathon. Think you can't run a marathon? You can. What about a 50K? Sure. 50 miler? Why not. 100K? Yep. 100 miler? With the right training and discipline, almost any race distance is possible. Humans need to push themselves to find their limits...you can go farther than you think. And at a race, you'll have extra motivation and support to set a new "distance" personal record.
As we get older, we tend to slow down. Our running and racing suffers. Fortunately, there are many good reasons to race and we can still challenge ourselves, and our peers, to see how fit we are. In fact, there's another way to level the playing field and test our selves against everyone at the race at the same time--age-graded standards and race handicapping. With adjustments to our actual finish time based on two important factors (age and gender), we can compete "equally" across the entire race spectrum. We can determine who is the "overall" winner with scientifically determined adjustments. For me, this is cool and I wish more races did this adjustment. Personally, I think there should be two winners of every race--the first person to cross the finish line and the fastest WAVA-adjusted finisher. In some cases it could be the same person. WAVA = "World Association of Veteran Athletes." WAVA has now transformed into World Masters Athletics. Still, I call the conversion the WAVA calculator.
Here is a WAVA calculator where you can enter your race distance, time, age, and gender and dermine it's "adjusted score."
http://www.pinebeltpacers.org/AgeGrade/newwava.html
So, I stand by my declaration that there is only one "winner" in any race. Although I'm fine with declaring a WAVA-adjusted winner too. I'd be proud to fall in either category. We have many reasons to run and many reasons to race. Just don't fool yourself into thinking you'll win. You won't. But we can all still race. Give it your best, enjoy, and be proud of what you've achieved. Maybe you'll make a new friend. Set a personal best time. Win your age group. If nothing else, pick out a slow running friend and take comfort in crushing them! It's the small things in life that make it worth living. Enjoy your running and racing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)