Reality

What an ugly run. I think I did everything I could to make today's 10k (Rode City Run in Louisville, KY) go badly – and I succeeded. To begin with, the kids were at sleepovers last night. My wife and I found ourselves alone – it happens about once a year. So, despite having to race the next morning, we went out for dinner at a nice restaurant, ate too much and stayed out too late. This morning I was barely able to get out of bed.

Combine this with my already sore body (too many hard training miles too soon) and a poor attitude and I was doomed before the gun went off.

I wanted to run a 42 minute 10k. I knew that was probably wishful thinking, but I wanted to get close. I ended up doing a 44:50 – a 7:15 pace. That's about what I'd like to do for 26.2 miles. I do indeed have a long way to go.

I started the race out thinking I was going pretty fast. But I wasn't. I did a 7:05 first mile but felt like I had just run a 6:05. I then did another 7:05, then slipped to 7:23 and then did an ugly 7:45. People started passing me who normally wouldn't. I was getting pretty down but I kept pushing. The next mile was slightly downhill and I did around 7:30 and I didn't feel too bad. My legs felt stiff as a board, but I wasn't too winded – I put it into my highest gear and ended my last two miles at around a 7 minute pace. I had managed to salvage some dignity.

The problem is obvious – I've built up a great aerobic base from Ironman. I can go slow forever. But I've lost my high gear. I've got to incorporate speed in my training and I've got to do it more intelligently than what I did this past week – my 42 year old body can't handle the stress like it used to.

On the upside, whenever I've had a bad race, it usually gives me motivation to try that much harder. The final leg of the Louisville Triple Crown is in two weeks – The Papa John's 10 miler. I've got some work to do.