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December 6, 2006

ARC Decker Challenge

I ran one of my favorite races on Sunday in my least favorite weather condition – wind. Boo hoo. I guess I’ll have to wait another year to get another crack at it. It’s out in the country and it’s got some serious rolling hills, which I love – much better than the steep ones in other courses that reduce you to tippie-toe on the way up and then require some serious pounding on the way down. Usually the weather is horrendous (but it’s not always windy.) This was the race two years ago when I met Meghan! Can’t believe it’s been that long.

It was another mediocre “what happened to that excellent summer running?” race, but I did have some strong sections in there, when the wind wasn’t in my face. I managed to get in a few sub-7s with the wind at my back, even. Last time I ran the damn thing I did the whole thing under 7-minute pace. The year before that I ran the same pace I ran this year, but that year I was only six weeks out of a stress fracture. Boo hoo. At one point on Sunday I thought I was doing really well, only to mentally just fall apart at the end as I ran uphill into the wind. It’s one thing to see your splits and realize you’re running slower than you’ve historically been able to do; it’s quite another to see relatively slow splits and actually feel like you’re slower than molasses in January.

I have somehow managed to become the leader of my age group in the Austin Distance Challenge, however, which is certainly a nice condolence prize. I have come by this honor after starting out in fourth or fifth or something and having people slowly drop out. I don’t think I actually raced my way past anyone in the group. Each person leading his or her age group after each of the races is given a yellow jersey to wear at the next race. Not such great timing for me, though, since I’m not racing the next race. Andy and I will be pacing our 8:34 pace at the 20-mile race at the beginning of the year. Do I wear the yellow jersey and hang out in the middle of the pack? Well … if it’s the only time I get to wear it then I just might!

I’m just not sure what I want from running right now. Work is crazy and will get crazier and crazier until next June, and my lungs are punishing me for refusing to slow down while I was congested and nasty for nearly two months straight. Wednesday mornings I’ve been hitting the track with a group for a workout, but this morning I just didn’t feel like it and just headed to the trail and walked and ran and just enjoyed being outside. Yes I do have to train to pace this marathon, but I don’t have to t-r-a-i-n for it, which is good because I don’t have the time or the energy right now. I’m in limbo.

And I’m also worried that even when I do have the time and energy to train I won’t have the desire. It’s not like I’m sittin’ around thinking “man, I wish I were full-on marathon training right now.”

Posted by jenandmats at December 6, 2006 8:57 PM

Comments

Yes, you should wear the jersey. You've earned it. I checked out the results, and you're 8th overall for women, which is pretty cool.

Posted by: hokgardner at December 8, 2006 1:28 PM