ANTICIPATION!
I don't know how I got so blessed, but I really treasure my mental and emotional state before a big race.
I'll stop and point out that I'm completely not ready for Miwok tomorrow: undertrained, slower than I was in January, and generally not ready for the rigors of my first 100K after having spent the last few months really doing nothing but beating up my knee and then spending weeks rehabbing it back to minimal function.
So I should be nervous and frightened, dreading the ordeal and worried about the chance that for the first time in my life I may have to sweat the cutoff times, right? I should be worried that I may batter my knee so badly that I may have to give up running for months. I should be feeling bereft as I go to an unfamiliar place with less than a half-dozen people I even know a little bit, and face a challenge alone.
But that's not how I feel at all, it never is. I'm bursting with anticipation, dreaming pleasant dreams of the Marin headlands I've never seen and smiling faces that will soon no longer be strangers. This is what I live for, almost as much as facing the challenges on the trail that are sure to come. I have no idea where this response of mine came from. It is not how I am in "real life." All I can do is embrace it as a blessing, and try to learn how to make every day like today.
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I got guest pass tickets from my airline brother in-law; the first time I've done that. He even met me at the airport before takeoff where he was waiting on reserve status. Today will be a lazy day, flying to Sacramento then driving down to Mill Valley and knocking around the area for the day.
Ken Ward was gracious enough to send me his Miwok pace chart and an admonishment to start out slower than I did when he saw me at Peterson Ridge Rumble. I'm sitting here trying to muster the discipline to take the first couple of aid stations at the far back of the pack, then gradually let myself speed up a tiny bit before hitting Pan Toll at about mile 22. From there I should just let the rhythm of the trail dictate, and will probably be able to start moving up a little. I've always had a burst of strength starting around mile 37 in 50 milers that carries me all the way to the finish. I'm anxious to see if that late strength will carry me an extra 12 miles.
My anticipation is overwhelming me, I can't wait until tomorrow!
I don't know how I got so blessed, but I really treasure my mental and emotional state before a big race.
I'll stop and point out that I'm completely not ready for Miwok tomorrow: undertrained, slower than I was in January, and generally not ready for the rigors of my first 100K after having spent the last few months really doing nothing but beating up my knee and then spending weeks rehabbing it back to minimal function.
So I should be nervous and frightened, dreading the ordeal and worried about the chance that for the first time in my life I may have to sweat the cutoff times, right? I should be worried that I may batter my knee so badly that I may have to give up running for months. I should be feeling bereft as I go to an unfamiliar place with less than a half-dozen people I even know a little bit, and face a challenge alone.
But that's not how I feel at all, it never is. I'm bursting with anticipation, dreaming pleasant dreams of the Marin headlands I've never seen and smiling faces that will soon no longer be strangers. This is what I live for, almost as much as facing the challenges on the trail that are sure to come. I have no idea where this response of mine came from. It is not how I am in "real life." All I can do is embrace it as a blessing, and try to learn how to make every day like today.
---
I got guest pass tickets from my airline brother in-law; the first time I've done that. He even met me at the airport before takeoff where he was waiting on reserve status. Today will be a lazy day, flying to Sacramento then driving down to Mill Valley and knocking around the area for the day.
Ken Ward was gracious enough to send me his Miwok pace chart and an admonishment to start out slower than I did when he saw me at Peterson Ridge Rumble. I'm sitting here trying to muster the discipline to take the first couple of aid stations at the far back of the pack, then gradually let myself speed up a tiny bit before hitting Pan Toll at about mile 22. From there I should just let the rhythm of the trail dictate, and will probably be able to start moving up a little. I've always had a burst of strength starting around mile 37 in 50 milers that carries me all the way to the finish. I'm anxious to see if that late strength will carry me an extra 12 miles.
My anticipation is overwhelming me, I can't wait until tomorrow!
10 comments:
Pete, Miwok is an awesome race! You'll love the "family" as much as the trail system and the organisation! I am missing it already, and yes, take the start slow, especially the first road hill and the second dirt road hill, then run leisurely on the cross-roll to the turn-around, don't trash your legs on steep downhill, hike back up - and then teer it on! It's a great course!
Hippo - Have a great time at Miwok. Follow the little Russian hottie's advice. She cute and smart too!
YOU WILL ROCK AT MIWOK!
Have a great time down there. I know you've been looking forward to it and I know you'll do great. Have a fantastick time!
I can't wait to read your race report. Have a great time and good luck. You will do great.
Don't know that you'll read this until you get back, but I'm glad you have such a nice mental state going into the run :) I just love running in the Marin Headlands and know you'll have an amazing time!
Go have fun and kick some tail at Miwok. It's definitely on my "list" of races to do. I think going into the race more relaxed than nervous will be a huge asset.
Best of luck (to both you and your knee)!!
Joan
i hope you are having fun today!
i wore the miwok shirt that olga gave me today on my 5 mile run, in honor of the runners out there going the distance!
Hey, thanks for stopping by the blog! I enjoyed your post. The sense of anticipation comes through in your writing. Have a great run!
I hope you had a great day! Looking forward to your report.....
Thank you so much visiting the other day and I hope your race no not race you Mega Ultra!!! thats the right term!!! went well. Thank you for your comment I really do try I get out there but if I don't get out there at a decent time its less milage. I know its ok though because I too feel so Bless!!!
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