Race Report; West End Mile

Previous PR: 6:14 
90% Goal: 6:20
50% Goal: 6:10
10% Goal: 6:05
Result: 6:19

Pre-Race
It's strange to do a small race after so many ATC and other large events. B and I arrived at 7am, and there was nothing. We thought were were in the wrong place for a little while, then realized the amount of setup required for a one mile probably didn't necessitate getting there over an hour in advance. 

We did an out and back run of the course for our warm-up so that I could get a feel for the small inclines on the course, as well as know approximately where the quarter splits would be. This definitely helped. I did a few strides on the return bit, took my warm-ups off, and then tried to stay loose and not stress too much while B headed off to the course. She would be waiting on a hill around the 1000m mark, and helping S, another friend who was coming to cheer me on, get set around the 1300m. 


Line
I knew as soon as we lined up that I would not be the overall female winner (something I'd considered possible based on previous years' results). There was one other woman there who looked FIERCE. She would either be going for the same time as me and give me someone to chase, or be exactly the sort of person who could lead me out too fast. I vowed not to pay attention to her, or the other woman who also seemed like she was gunning for it, and get the idea of winning the women's division out of my head. 

0-400m
My number 1 goal for the race was to not start off too fast. Right off the line, I had to keep myself from matching pace with the other runners. They'll either come back to me, or they won't. What matters most is that I'm on pace, not that I'm ahead/behind anyone.
I tried to focus on how I feel when I start a speedwork interval (free and easy), and just channel that, keeping my stride strong and long. The first 400 was down part of the beltline, a 10+ foot wide multi-use path. Though, when I say "down", I really mean "up". 

This was the steepest part of the course, but it was over soon, and then the first lap was behind us... in 1:26. Too fast. 



400-800m
The second "lap" involved the only turn of the course, through a kind of crazy intersection, and then it was downhill.... or maybe it was uphill? I don't remember.

I easily passed the second woman, and a ton of other people who started off too fast, at this point. I just remember thinking, "keep running". Things started to get a little hard here, but I was also struggling with pace- trying to slow down a little after my adrenaline-fueled first 400, but still hit the 3:01 Nick told me to aim for at the halfway point.

3:02. Still alright. Over halfway done. Now you get to pick it up and get it done.


800-1200m
I'm beyond grateful to have had friends on the course, cheering for me. After I passed the 800, I knew B would be on the next little hill. That little hill, though, felt like a mountain. My legs felt... I don't know. "Stuck" is the best way I can describe it. It felt like I was running on an elliptical with the resistance set to "max", or that I had someone pushing against my chest, trying to stop me. It wasn't just my legs. It wasn't my cardio. It was just... stuck. I passed Brandi, who was cheering my name and shouting "only 600 more".

600 more? So far... but only a lap and a half. Lock in, you've got this.

I'm proud of myself for what happened next. I felt the "stuck" feeling, and I wanted to throw in the towel, but I didn't. It's only a lap and a half to go, which means only half a lap until you'll see S. Just get to the underpass she's at, then you can kick. 

I accepted the feeling of "OMG this is so hard" and leaned into it, trying to draw strength from the struggle, but this wasn't the sort of "hurt" I was expecting to feel, or hoping to feel. It was as if I just couldn't move any faster, even though I wanted to. There wasn't anywhere left to dig deep to, but, at the same time, I didn't feel like I'd "bottomed out".  


1200-1600m 
The last part of the course has a slightly curved incline up to an underpass. Once you're there, you can see the slight curve down to the finish. I kept looking for S as I climbed, and seeing her gave me a little new life, just like it did at Little Kings. I still felt stuck, though. I kept waiting to be able to shift into that other gear that I can always find, trusting that I'd be able to, at least, finish strong. 

I could see the clock say 5:33. Push. Kick. There only a handful of traffic cones between you and the line. GO. NOW.

But my body didn't respond. It was like I couldn't go any faster. I didn't feel like I was going all out. I just felt like a block of lead. 

I saw the clock tick 6:09 and I was still so far away. Now. Go. Kick. KICK.

Nothing. I had no kick to give. 

blue/top= pace (see the spikes when I passed my cheerleaders?)
red/bottom= elevation (full axis = 30')

Reactions

IT ISN'T FAIR

I ran a 6:14 with zero training, with almost a month off beforehand for injury, without caring or trying, on a course will a lot of turns and some hills. Today, after six weeks of focused effort, on a flat, straight course, I was a full five seconds slower.

Reflections Ramblings
I don't think enough time has passed for me to have reflections yet, so let's just go with ramblings.

I'm fine. Today wasn't my day. I was proud of myself before the race, and, though my time isn't anywhere close to what I wanted, I'm proud of my effort too. I didn't mentally check out. I don't know what happened. But it wasn't a lack of effort.


I had a weird burning sensation in my chest/throat during the back half of the run. The best way I can describe it is like running in the cold when you're not used it. I've never had that in a race before and have no idea what it was. 


Having B&S there, and having B to "debrief" with during the car ride home was invaluable. I continued the "therapy" in our #10KTuesday team message thread. It helps so much. All of us have had our own struggles through training, but we all believe in each other SO much. 


Our Miler Method FB has been incredible. I had one of the other participants wish me luck today, out of the blue, because they remembered my race was a week later than everyone else's. This same participant also had a really disappointing run last week... and re-did her trial today, crushing it. Seeing her second attempt victory was exactly what I needed. 


Sierra, Coach Nick's wife (who's basically another coach for us all) also had a bad first mile trial experience. She was disappointed with her time and felt like she could have done better. She, too, tried again, and hit her sub-6. These women gives me hope that I, too, will succeed. It just might take my body awhile to recover from training and reap the benefits of those six weeks in a race setting.


I don't know how, but I think at least some of today was mental, just in a different way than I expected. Every single run I had this cycle was great... except for two: today, and the time trial-- the only two I had serious expectations for. Every single one of my PRs has been on a 'oh, I'll just see what I can run" kind of day, with no expectations, no serious training, and no pressure. Maybe that's what I need to succeed. I shared this in the FB group and Nick had just the right thing to say:
"I have had a similar go of things this season too. My first 5 races didn't go as I had hoped, but at 5th Ave last week it finally clicked. And I think you're right, a lot of it was mental. I too put too much pressure on myself."

Hearing that from an Olympic medalist was huge. It's a great reminder that I still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to athletics. And, really, I'm still SO new at this. I'm only been running/athletic for about six years, and only really trying my best in the last year. 


This is the first goal I haven't hit in two years. Kind of sucks. But at least it means I'm setting good goals.


Jerry asked me today if I felt like I could have gone any faster today. Without a doubt, no, I couldn't have. Acknowledging that there's a difference between what I'm capable of and what I'm capable of on a given day has helped a lot. I always thought you either gave it your all, or you sandbagged. Hearing from him (a lifelong athlete) and S (who swam competitively in college), and, really, a TON of others, that that isn't the case really helped. 


Oh, and then, without knowing ANY of this, one of my other runner friends shared this on FB, which sent me into emotional tears.

I didn't get what I wanted, but I couldn't have done any better today, and I'm at peace with that.