That is all it took on Sunday to get a new personal best. Five seconds and I would matched my previous personal best from last year. As runners, seconds count and on Sunday time was on my side. I have had many races where time alluded me, despite all the mental and physical preparation, because it just wasn't my day to seize. I am happy to have achieved a goal i.e. to ran "sub 35 before 35". I am sure I picked this phrase up from someone or something I read and I acknowledge there is some credit to be given to the original source - if only I could remember. The day of the race started like all others. I had interrupted sleep al Saturday night with lots of tossing and turning. At 5 a.m. I bound out of bed and four minutes later I was watching "The Big Mzungu" a movie about Craig Mottram (a talented world class runner from Australia). I was motivated to at least attempt to run fast at the race after my time with Craig. I watched “The Big Mzungu” tear apart the roads at New York in the Healthy Kidney 10 K. He danced off his toes and looked comfortable winning in 28:13. I imagined running through the TC 10 K course as comfortable but consciously knowing that (only in my dreams) can I ran as quick as Craig.Fourty minutes later, I was up making a chai and had my pre-race ritual toast with peanut butter and jam. The water bottle was filled and I stared at my race gear. The next ten minutes I listened to the news as I slowly put on my battle gear checking every pin to make sure they were aligned correctly to avoid unwanted chafing. At 6:30 a.m. I was out walking around the complex waking the body to the inevitable race "hurt" the pain that comes with pushing the mind and body through new boundaries. Fifteen minutes later I was in my neighbour's vehicle speeding towards the start line. On arrival, I jogged towards Beacon hill park tracing a portion of the race course and letting the mind wander. The nomad mind had both negative and positive thoughts about my chances of a good time at the race. I played out the various scenarios - go out hard and risk blowing out or ran conservatively, pick it up and hope for the best. Either way, I concluded that given my illness over the last little while it wouldn't matter as my body would tell me the right strategy once I take the first few steps. I met various friends and training partners during my warm up and got positive feed back from all as they encouraged me to go for it as it didn't matter that I had been sick. I took off my watch and lined up as I did not want to chase split times or commit to them as I knew that I may eventually fade with the passage of each kilometre. At the gun, the leaders bolted off the line like thoroughbreds running the Kentucky derby. In a split second, I went from being a stride or two behind the eventual winner to being among the masses. I tucked onto the back of a big group consisting of B.C. and C.K. - two runners who I thought I could stay with for a number of kilometres. Things were looking good but the effort was taking its toll on my body. At the four kilometre mark, the group started to move and I was quickly spat out the back. I hang on to my position focusing on maintaining a decent gap between me and the group. Just as I passed the 5 km mark, I felt the wind which steadily grew in intensity as I passed Ogden point. Sitting in no man's land, I looked back to see if there was anyone close by who could at least work with me to try and maintain the now growing gap between me and the big group up ahead. I saw Hugh and slowed down (actually I was slowing and he was gaining on me). Hugh quickly caught me and I put my head down to do some front running. Having now read Hugh's blog: http://trainharder.com/weblog/hugh_weblog.php, it seems he was 'sapped' and could not share in the work. I recall having the same sensation last year and tucking behind R.H. without sharing the work. I am sure on another day, I would be the one benefiting from Hugh's front running and/or would not see him until the finish. Shortly after Hugh joined me, we had the company of a fast moving "Mr. tall fellow" and I tucked in behind him. He was gracious to lead us through the blowing wind and although I took a turn at the front once more, it was obvious he was much stronger than we were on this day. When we hit the 8 km mark, "Mr. tall fellow" showed us his heels and I came unglued. It was time to dig deep and hang on for the 2 kms of pain. I am sure anyone cheering around the 8 km mark would have seen that I was in deep trouble. I felt like the tortoise running at snail's pace knowing there were rabbits coming fast behind me. If I was not carrying this heavy shell of tiredness, I knew I would have some extra strength at this stage. Rounding the turn towards the finish line, I heard the announcer (during the brief moment that I had enough oxygen in my brain) call out L.S.’s name (the women's winner) and her time of 34:24. Now for those of you who ran, when you are looking at breaking a personal best and you hear that you can get it in a matter of 400 meters, you get a second wind followed by, from my perspective, the following:
A turbo charger kicks in that you never knew you had and you sprint to the line with all your might. The pain session you have been battling goes away and you are in a state of ease with your form. As you watch the clock above the finish line ticking away, every stride takes you mere seconds. You find that efficient form that has been avoiding you for the last 9.6 km.
In a mere 32 seconds, I crossed the line in 00:34:56 and gasped for air. It took me some time to get enough oxygen to every cell in my body and, as I met the family, I still wasn’t sure whether I had made the time. I had a quick cool down with I.H. (the champ) and S.C. sharing quick stories about the race. I returned to watch the kids enjoy the post race activities, stickers and the bouncy castle. It was a beautiful day and there is no one more to thank than my dear, supportive and beautiful T. S-W. Her support throughout has been remarkable and we celebrated (and continue to) the accomplishment.
Congratulations to all that ran and a special mention goes to Mrs. H. M. on her first 10 K and the running diva (who after all her hard work all season earned some money coming in as the 2nd overall woman). Full results from the TC can be found here: http://pih.bc.ca/results/tc/tc.php
Training:
Monday, April 30, was a rest day.
Tuesday, May 1, I ran for 00:30:00 along Lochside at high noon. 2/5 effort on the scale. The body feels fine except for a slight achillies ache.
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