On I went, out of the wood, passing the man leading without knowing I was going to do so. Flip-flap, flip-flap, jog-trot, jog-trot, curnchslap-crunchslap, across the middle of a broad field again, rhythmically running in my greyhound effortless fashion, knowing I had won the race though it wasn't half over, won it if I wanted it, could go on for ten or fifteen or twenty miles if I had to and drop dead at the finish of it, which would be the same, in the end, as living an honest life like the governor wanted me to. -Alan Sillitoe, "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

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I didn't run the Cherry Tree 10m race on Sunday. I was registered for it; I'd picked up my packet earlier in the week; I wanted the ear warmers; I had made plans to meet Kate on the subway at 8:15 in the morning.

I woke up at 7am after a bad night of sleep. It was freezing cold out. I live more than an hour away from Brooklyn and the start of the race. I looked at my running clothes all laid out and I said, "Screw it." (Actually, to be honest with you, what I actually said was unprintable, but "screw it" is a very close approximation.) I texted Kate to tell her I was a disappointing loser and I went back to sleep.

Common refrain that you've seen before on this blog: I'm sick of half-assing too many races. I wasn't prepared to race 10m this weekend, and I chose to DNS rather than to be disappointed with myself.


So, instead, I got my sister to create a half-marathon training schedule. She wants me to focus on speed and not distance. Okay, I'll do it. To say that it's low mileage is sort of like saying that the Pope goes to church occasionally. But you know what? If I can't stick to this plan, I'm a deadloss.

It's focused around a halfathon on 1 May - possibly the Flying Pig? Then I'm registered for the Brooklyn Half on 21 May. This gives me two chances to feel like I'm somewhat competent/improved at the half. If that doesn't work... maybe I'll just stop racing entirely for a bit. Not a bad idea.

5 comments:

  1. Don't go to Cincinnati. Never go to Cincinnati. Oh wait, did I say that out loud? Worst 2 months of my life...ugh.

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  2. What where/when is flying pig??? I'd be down for another half that doesn't involve running around Central Park... Even if it means a (short) trip outside the city.

    I ran 2 miles this morning. But it was 2 miles in Paris, so whatever if I stayed in bed an extra half hour to completely not run 4+ and so what if my most recent "long" run is 4m (by recent, I think I pathetically mean last 2 months). I'm in Paris and having a marathon food fest. :)
    Yes, I'm whining...

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  3. Good luck with the speed training... it's definitely not my favorite! :p

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  4. Ha ha. I didn't see this post before my comment on the full in the previous post :) That looks like a good half plan. Although, it may be all thrown out the window now?

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