The Race is On....

Karlee, Nancy, T-Money, Alma and Sierra Cascade Conference Preview

This year has been a pivotal year for me. Many changes have happened and one of the changes has been taking on running and putting the bike up in the garage (except for Sunday strolls). I have discovered immense things about myself in my running career so far, first of all I have learned it's time to trust myself and believe truth about my abilities. I never realized until now how much self doubt I actually struggle with, and in competition on your feet you have no time to doubt the work you've done.

One of my favorite races so far was when I was relaxed and having fun, running through an acorn orchard and rain was falling on our shoulders. Hardly any spectators were around and it was myself chasing down the first place winner....when I had the ability to realize what I was doing and focus I had a blast.

My results so far have been 14:39-4th place on a 2.5 mile course at NNU, 17:58-2nd place on a 5k course at Conference Preview, and 17:58-16th out 241 at Willamette Invite.

This last race at Willamette provided the most testing race thus far. I have had one of the hardest weeks in training with a gruesome chest cold and injured foot (thanks conference preview), completing all my mileage on a mouse trap called a treadmill I was apprehensive putting on my number to race. As we got on the line I looked around seeing close to 250 other women wondering how I was going to make it into the top ten. When the horn went off I sprinted to the front coming close to blowing up, once on the course I felt as though my chest was going to tighten until combustion. After settling into the first mile my right foot started to hurt pretty bad, I looked down and realized the right shoe had come untied. You can't exactly stop and tie your shoe so I worked through the pain and made it to the finish.

I can't complain with the results. I didn't regress in time, and frankly the course this week was ten times harder than the previous weeks race. I can learn from this point that you have to ignore things like shoes coming untied and remain focused in order to get good results. I also realize that I need to shut the bull shit off in my head the days before my races.

I love this sport and look forward to pinning on the next number!!

NNU meet 9.12.09