Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Hey Kids. It's Crunch Time.

As the fall marathon season begins, us Agony Runners all have our training plans to execute.  Some of us may have a personal coach, some of us may be taking tips from other runners, and some of us may be doing a training off a book or a website.  Either way, the training regimen becomes increasingly rigid, more strenuous and definitely longer than ever.
What I have noticed this season is that, I’ve been less generous with my time.  Before, if someone wanted me to do a race with them or do a random length run (short or long), I was like “sure, why not?”.  This season, I’m much less generous…or rather, selfish about my workouts.  OK, a better word would be more disciplined than ever before.
As an older runner, I have a very limited window where I can run at the level I am running now.  In about 2 years, I’ll start to decline.  My PRs will be far and few.  My time will fall.  I will get slower and slower.  Hey, it’s just the way it is.  I think this is why I’m more serious than ever before to get the good times while I can.  I need to work harder than ever before because I need to PR one last time.   A friend of mine once said, “you have to be a little bit selfish to achieve your goals”.  I fully understand now. 
I know it’s not very “team like” for me to not run a Team Points race or not spend time with my team mates.  I’m really sorry.  I just can’t afford it right now.  My “A” race is just 5 weeks away, and the summer heat and humidity has done nothing to build confidence.  I need the time to train harder.  But I promise.  Come December, I will be more team-like! 

Oh, and BY THE WAY…NYRR is reconsidering the Baggage Check Shi!t Show.  We may not be able to wear the fashionable Ponchos afterall!  Too bad, because I was actually warming up to the Little "Stinky" Orange Riding Hood look.  I thought it'll look awesome if I pinned my bib # on the hood part post race.  

 

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