Patience; the new endurance sport.

Freedom Run

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Dec 31, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

I ran my first marathon as a teenager in 1981 with my Dad (The Coronado Marathon). Since then I've run St, George (3x) Utah Valley (3x) Ogden (1 full, 2 halves) Park City (1 x) Boston Marathon (1x) Washington DC (1x) Moab Half Marathon (6x) ,Ye Old Freedom Festival 5 & 10K (a million x) and many others.

But I'm all done with that now. I'm officially a jogger.

Short-Term Running Goals:

My running goal is to keep on keepin' on.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Jog into the sunset.

Personal:

I like being outside.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony ProGrid V Lifetime Miles:						479.51
Saucony Ride Lifetime Miles:						841.34
Saucony Tangent Lifetime Miles:						150.93
Saucony Ride Lifetime Miles:						307.50

Fri, Jul 04, 2008

Race: Freedom Run (6.21 Miles) 00:51:48, Place overall: 327, Place in age division: 8

Slow miles	Fast miles	Total Distance
5.15	6.21	11.36

Happy Fourth of July! Today's race was, well...not my smartest race and really self-revealing. Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Ok, the bad news. I ran as fast and as hard as I could and my average pace was still just about 8:30. I started out fast--and just as I was afraid I'd do, I lost my mojo by mile 4 and had to stop a good minute (or three) to drink and catch my breath and stretch. This is the good news: I ran the first four miles like a champion! 8:05/7:26/7:46/8:25. But the success of those miles freaked me out, and I choked. I actually told myself it wasn't possible for me to run that fast in a race, and I literally stopped myself from acheiving a major personal milestone. I ran the last two miles easy at 8:36/9:02 (up the 900 East). So the good news is, the speedwork has really paid off-- I've never run below my 8:02 threshold. The bad news, I have leraned that I have very poor mental stamina and endurance. I should have made a pit stop at mile 5 to get that looked at (the mental hospital is strategically located both literally and metaphorically). To make matters worse, Mike Strauss (neighbor/friend) further patronized me by running additional miles (turning around after his own finish) and passed me headed against the running traffic on 900 East, somewhere he turned back around and re-crossed the finish line for the secnd time passing, and finishing just in front of me. I mean, that is sad, I was beat by the same guy, twice, in one race! Anyway, it was so fun to see Melissa Bateman, Shelly Dixon, Camden Miller, Paul Baca, and Mike Strauss it was like a high school/neighborhood running reunion. Also, met Josse--she looked like she was leading the race around mile 5 so I cheered for her loud and also bumped into her at the end. Way to go Josse, you make running at the head of the race look so easy. I saw everybody except Catherine, who I was supposed to meet before the race and never saw even after the finish! I was so mad about my time I ran all the way back home (another 5.15 miles). So even if my time was only average, at least I'll get my miles in this week. So now, I guess I've learned a lot about my own fear of success, and may finally be ready for new mental conditioning.

Comments

From Jody on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 12:32:36

Congratulations!!! You did great and it is a tough course! Visiting with friends and the post race hanging around are the best part!

From josse on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 14:31:23

Great job on the challenging course. I was great to meet you and look forward to some parkway runs together.

From sarah on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 15:20:26

Oh...I think you did wonderfully!!! I will send you a big Chilean e-mail kiss....

From Sasha Pachev on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 16:43:49

When you stop, it is not a nervous system problem, it has become a mental issue. There is a difference. The former is not a choice while the latter is. Great first 4 miles though, on pace for sub-50:00. You probably would have gotten it if you had just kept going.

From luzylew on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 16:51:46

I know, I know. It was stupid and weak. I spent the 5.15 runnng home strategizing about how to build mental endurance and 'stay mad' during the race. I need to reappropriate the 'angry' during the race, instead of being angry later, regretting the time I wasted. Those sub-8:00's kind of made me afraid of myself. Now I found the weak spot in my braid, and the reason I've never pushed all these years, I going after it. It's war.

From luzylew on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 16:53:16

Brain, weak spot in my brain. Although, I may have a weak braid as well.....:)

From josse on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:46:35

I hear ya Luz, but experiences like this is what helps build metal toughness. Take it and use it in the next race. Come up with something you can tell your self when you start to get weak. I say I can can can. Or I now I can. Or the best I imagine Sasha is right in front of my saying give me five.

From luzylew on Fri, Jul 04, 2008 at 19:05:18

That just made me cry. I just ammended my blog. It's been a profound lesson for me today. I really do need to say, I can, I can! and reach forward for that "five." Thank you so much.

From Maria on Sat, Jul 05, 2008 at 07:54:43

Good job in the first 4 miles, Luz, and a valuable lesson learned! I thought you could dip under 50 easily, based on your recent runs and paces. Good advice from Josse on keeping yourself in the race when the going gets tough. You will get better at it with more practice and racing. You should have confidence in your training and the mileage you are putting in, that you can always finish a 10K without stopping, even if you go out way too fast and die. You can slow down and do the best you can, but stopping creates a bad psychological barrier that may become a pattern. Maybe, in your next race, try to pace off someone with similar time goal (if they are a good pacer), and resolve to stay behind them no matter what to the end. It will take concentration and then you will know you can do it.

From Christi on Sat, Jul 05, 2008 at 12:49:03

Great job! I think you did awesome. I'm sure the heat was probably a factor too? Kudos to you for learning from each race, that's what's most important!

From luzylew on Sat, Jul 05, 2008 at 13:44:31

Learning seems like a small word for what happened yesterday. Epiphany is more like it. Thank you for these kind words and encouragement. For Maria-- you are righ. Stopping creates a bad psychological barrier. I started the race with a 50 year old age division winner. She was wearing a huge Uncle Sam hat. For all my racing and struggle-- she kept her pace cool and steady and finished just seconds ahead of me. That's what I should be striving for in the next 10 years. You are right on. I really appreciate your experience and advise.

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