Well I guess it's time to close out 2013 and get the year wrapped up. My Opening Day for the 2014 season starts next Monday, only 6 more days!
2014 is shaping up nicely. Just yesterday I found a spring marathon. About a week ago I found a gravel grinder. I'm already registered for two full iron triathlons, and I'm looking for a spring/summer prep half distance.
2013 was a new experience for me -- I went from 12 hr triathlons to 12 hr running events. The year started off with me and TH running LBL as a prep race, then Potawatomi as our first 50 miler. This was a huge accomplishment, and I think I can say that for both of us. I had doubts on top of doubts about whether I could finish a race like this. But if I knew I could do it, there'd be much less thrill. Apparently, not knowing is what keeps be going.
Once finished with the 50M, I shifted into a somewhat neutral, unmotivated state. (Originally 2013 was going to be a fun off year for me. That didn't happen! Well I was off triathlons and doing something new, so I guess maybe it did happen!). So imagine my surprise when I realized I wanted to try 50M again later that year at the Mark Twain.
TH sat this one out and focused on tri's and resting. So my new training partner became TV. It took some adjusting, his pace was faster and his approach more inter-competitive. He was out to win many of his races. TH and I had a more intra-competitive in that we only competed against ourselves, not others. (And that's not to say we competed or compared against each other.) So suddenly I'm not only going faster than I'm used to, I'm also talking strategies and higher goal setting. At first I didn't know if I liked it since I've been participating in these events mostly done this for fun and personal challenge. How would the experience change if suddenly I set goals of fortune and glory? Would finishing 2nd be a "loss" for me? Will I still feel embarrassed by admitting a goal of "I Wanna Win"? Could I be happy with an otherwise great race if I didn't podium?
I've been doing this since 2006, so this was my 8th year of racing. Sure, I've been podium-hunting at some events. But it wasn't my major overall goal. So maybe it's time I start setting bigger goals, start looking beyond the MOP finish, and start pushing myself much harder.
July's Rt 66 half iron came and went, leaving me with a 2nd AG finish and a 13.1M PR. This was my first taste of that fortune and glory -- I set my sights on a woman ahead of me in the last mile of the best half-mary I've ever run and went after her. No shame. And no dice, she beat me. But I enjoyed the thrill, congratulated her, and noted the lesson learned: I'm not only stronger than I think I am (learned in Redman 2009), I'm also faster than I think I am. (Though I'm still not terribly fast, if you take my meaning).
Next up is the Mark Twain 50M. I spend a majority of the race wondering about my position in the women's field, but don't find out until days later that I won 3rd! Although ultra running doesn't grant 3rd place podiums (it's First or Finish), I'm pretty damned proud of this.
But every time someone asked, how was your race?, I minimized my accomplishment by saying "I had a 2 hour PR and finished third, expect there's no 3rd in ultras". I just couldn't help myself, that's what I'd say. Was I still feeling ashamed about shooting for a podium? Why do I feel that way? Was I thinking I'd failed myself somehow? I've had years of thinking "it's not where you place or your time, but rather how well you executed your race plan" and I was happy with whatever place I finished in. Now I'm thinking "execute the race plan in order to podium". Is it really so different? No!
So one more race -- the McNotAgain 30M. I was doing this for "fun", I said. But deep down I wanted a redemption for the mess of a race I'd had at Potawatomi. (If I measure the success of a race by execution, that was a win/lose. I had a poor nutrition execution, but a winner of a fix for it in that I made myself walk it out). Prior to the race, I was scoping the other registered females online, looking at race times, ages, and experience to measure against my own. Things were looking good for a front finish, assuming my execution was as planned. And it was! I won first overall female and capped off my best year running ever.
But afterwards, I still felt awkward saying I'd won the race! My biggest win to date and I'm still hedging it.
Where does this leave me for 2014? I'm setting big goals. I'm thinking that spring marathon might be a good opportunity to really push for a marathon PR. And I Wanna Win at MiTi. Oh yes, there, I've said it. Not the first time I've said it, but now it's 'on paper' so to speak and I'm gonna dial it up for next year. It's leaving me somewhat apprehensive and nervous about starting the training.
But if I knew without a doubt that I could do it, then where's the thrill?
No comments:
Post a Comment