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May 9, 2010
interesting stupid things the mind does
I managed to ride out the Horrible On Call Week with only a few missed miles and reps. But I felt sluggish and heavy, which (come to think of it) is about par for week 1 of taper but of course I never remember that until afterward, so my confidence was very low all week. There was a low-key 5k this morning, and I entered hoping for anything under 20 to boost my confidence. But I also knew that if I blew it, I'd go into the marathon with an even worse head.
Turns out all that worrying was for nothing, as is so often the case. I ran 19:36 by my watch - not stellar and not a negative split, either, but safely under 20 and good for 2nd place. OK. Maybe I'll be able to execute some kind of plan next Sunday.
It occurs to me that I've been running 19:30s for 5k for the past 4 or 5 years, since I was 42 or so. What does this mean? what effect does aging have on all this? If I could go more than a year without an injury, would I finally get to sub-19:30 as my "normal" 5k time, or am I past the point where I can hope to improve?
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It's taper time, and most of the physical work is done, but just try telling that to an overactive brain fried by fatigue and all-nighters. During this week I've started thinking about the next race, and the next round of training, and all kinds of changes I want to make (lose 5 pounds, do more xtraining, run with a group, blah blah blah) and then today 2 things occurred to me:
1) by making all these great plans and resolutions about training for the next race (whatever it is, I haven't even decided), I'm kind of dismissing this coming one, kind of writing it off, kind of giving myself a way out of trying hard. And that's stupid, though interesting.
2) this is also giving my mind a way to keep on training even though it's taper time, and training is over. Again, kinda stupid, but interesting too.
Anyway, I hope to get my mind tapering too, whatever that means.
Posted by joe positive at May 9, 2010 4:03 PM
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Comments
so nice to read you again
Posted by: corradogiambalvo at May 9, 2010 5:25 PM
so nice to read you again
Posted by: corradogiambalvo at May 9, 2010 5:25 PM
Looking ahead is natural, but maybe get your mind in the place where you can lay it all on the line in this race.
19:30 is a quality time, but I think with smart training you have a few more years to literally improve. Late starters to running can keep improving to 52-54 before age becomes a factor. Training for 5k would help too, rather than being a marathoner who races 5ks (if that's what you are).
Posted by: Ewen at May 11, 2010 5:10 AM