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November 7, 2007
Here We Go!
It's hard to believe my last race of the season is just a few days away. It feels like just yesterday that I was training hard, preparing for my first race and wondering what 2007 would hold! And here we are, many months and many miles later, ready to toe the line for one final effort.
I have had lots of ups and downs my sophomore season, but I fully plan on making Clearwater one final (BIG) up. I've trained hard and relatively uninteruppted (with races that is) with the sole focus on this race for the past 2.5 months. No other race this season has gotten that type of buildup.
The one unknown is my hamstring. Although my cycling and swimming workouts were relatively unaffected, running took a hit this time around. I'm fairly pleased with how my hamstring is feeling now and I really feel like it won't be a huge factor in the race. What I don't know is how much I'll feel the effect of next to no hard run training and much shorter than planned long runs. Anything I missed on the roads I did in the water but I know it's not the same. Regardless, despite those concerns, if it had to happen I'm glad it was running that took the hit. It's my background and I feel most comfortable with it and I truly believe that the thousands of miles I've run over the past 15 years of my life at least count for a little something.
As for goals for this race, I have my "A" goals and my "B" goals. Both sets of these goals do not account for anything I've lost from my hamstring injury. But as of now, I'm not going to adjust. I'm just going to go and see what I can do. If I achieved my "A" goals I would be thrilled to death - happy as a lark! And if I achieved my "B" goals I would also be pleased, perhaps just not so much so.
And although I don't usually like telling other people my goals I think it's an important step for me to believe I can achieve them and to have the confidence to say so...
"A" goal - place in the top 5 in my AG and break 4:40
"B" goal - place in the top 10 in my AG and PR (under 4:50:09)
Going 10 minutes faster than my PR might seem like a bit much but I know Clearwater is a flat and fast course and now with at least 1 1/2 IM under my belt I have a little better feeling for how hard I can push on the bike without totally imploding on the run.
So after a good 3 workouts today, a chiro appointment, some packing (and doing the dreaded dismantling of the bike...) I will be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning for sunny Clearwater, Florida! O will join me Thursday night (yes, that's right, I actually have to navigate the airport and driving around Tampa/Clearwater myself for a day). And my parents will join us Friday night. And then Saturday the day will finally be here for me to prove to myself that all those laps in the pool, all those miles on the bike and all those runs in the dark, cold, blistering heat, rain, snow, ice were all worth it and more.
Posted by beth at November 7, 2007 2:24 PM
Comments
Hey Beth,
SO SCARY to dismantle the bike!!! Have a great, wonderful, FAST time down South!!
I'll be thinking of you!
Posted by: Audrey at November 7, 2007 5:55 PM
you'll be fine. just warm up really well at the start and loosen up. and gradually "warm" into race pace into the run. make it sensibly progressive, youll be very fine, go beth, GO!
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at November 7, 2007 8:56 PM
you'll be fine. just warm up really well at the start and loosen up. and gradually "warm" into race pace into the run. make it sensibly progressive, youll be very fine, go beth, GO!
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at November 7, 2007 8:57 PM
Best of luck, Beth! I think your mental toughness will help you overcome any issue out there Saturday. I'm cheering for you!
Meghan
Posted by: Meghan at November 7, 2007 8:58 PM
Buena suerte amiga!
Posted by: jenandmats at November 7, 2007 9:14 PM
Best of luck in acheiving that "A" goal, and enjoying yourself along the way! I believe if your hamstring behaves you will be running em down!
Posted by: Dawn at November 7, 2007 9:21 PM
"Run hard, be strong, think big."
Percy Cerutty
Posted by: Kranky C Dale at November 8, 2007 4:39 PM