Another run…
Today was a great day for a run. The morning dawned with sunshine, no wind and a comfortable (for runners) 47 degrees. It was also the morning for the 2025 North Shore Classic Half-Marathon. One of the reasons I love running is that it provides so many metaphors for life and achieving one’s goals. I’ve run about a dozen half marathons and there’s always something to learn in each race. This race is special, because I run with my oldest daughter, Erin. Well, truth is, she runs way ahead of me, and I follow at the middle of the pack!!
Most people think long distance running is about physical endurance. It’s conversely true: if you don’t put in the training, and the miles, the results will not speak for themselves. But it’s more than that. You can’t achieve your goals without mental focus and intensity as well. Today proved that once again for me. Even though my “assistant running coach” told me during training to focus on running my race, I let the conditions get the better of me this morning.
When it’s a cool, crisp morning, and the starting gun goes off, the corral empties pretty quickly. Fellow runners have that pent up energy and want to get on the course. I was no exception. Add to that a very slight downhill terrain for the first two miles and it’s hard to hold yourself back. Especially when you know there are some hills ahead and it would be great to “bank some time” for the final quarter of the distance.
My first quarter was well ahead of pace. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t like I wasn’t thinking about my running. I was. I could hear my coach in my head, “take it easy, run YOUR race.” But the morning just felt different, stronger than normal (solid training followed by a good taper?), confident —- I’d put in my miles and stuck to my training plan (well mostly.) My visualization and positive self-talk were in solid form.
At the half, I was feeling good and my second quarter was a bit faster than my first, even though I didn’t intentionally push it. I was prepared, I thought, for miles 7 - 8 miles —- the most challenging terrain, down to Lake Michigan and then back up a steep quarter mile hill. That’s when things started to unravel. The hill wasn’t an issue —- I’d run plenty of hill repeats. But by mile 8 I knew I was in trouble and my pace was slowing.
I made it to the finish, but it wasn’t pretty. And I missed my overall goal by a significant amount, even though had “banked plenty of time” in the first part of the race.
What did I learn?
First, have a plan and work your place. in a world that exalts “going fast and breaking things,” there are plenty of situations where that just doesn’t work. Working your plan —- boring as it sounds, gets results. There are no shortcuts. I stuck to most of my training plan, but I cut short two longer runs that would have paid dividends today.
Second, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, and sometimes that creates problems down the road. See item 1.
Third, having multiple goals is important. Even though you may not achieve your overall goal, there are almost certainly successes along the way. I had a few of those today. Besides, you only fail, when you fail to learn…and don’t listen to your coach! As my assistant coach says, “you’re a success just by being out there.” That’s very true. I just want some more success next time.