One of the most memorable lessons I learned as a runner years ago in High School, is that you have to be willing to make sacrifices. It's just life. If you are committed to being a runner, it may mean you have to pass on that picnic in the afternoon, because you have a track workout planned for that evening. Or forget that big pancake breakfast Saturday morning until after the long run.
Those are just a random examples, but I can tell you that for many years I have been planning my days and meals around the time and type of run I planned. It's just part of my daily routine. Of course, this has come as a pretty good irritation to my wife and family in recent years, but we work around it. If you want to reach your running goals, you have to maintain your discipline.
Either that or alter your goals. I chuckled to myself when my friend Janeth Salazar Ohst 
recently wrote in facebook that after more than three decades as a top flight local runner, she planned to run a race for fun, not to race, and she might even wear headphones. I've never been as talented as Janeth, but I could relate on some level. I used to think that way too. But in the last few years, I've probably run for fun at almost as many races as I've tried to run competitively. The experience of running in a race atmosphere is rewarding even if I don't run as fast as I might be capable of.
Fortunately, that's what the Oak Brook half marathon was for me Monday. I wanted to do a weekend long run, but knew I wasn't going to be up for racing after my exhausting experience last weekend at Hood to Coast. So I signed up, got my number and planned to get up early for the race. But I planned on running easy and enjoying the experience.
That was a good thing because our neighbors invited us to a barbeque the night before. And despite the early morning race, I vowed to go, drink a few beers, eat some ribs, and have a good time. That, of course, is not the ideal pre-race regimen, but I figured it worked for the pace I planned to run. My neighbors joked that they were going to show up and do the race as a relay and beat me. I'm still looking for them.
Thankfully, the cool temperatures in the morning made for nearly ideal running conditions. And as I took off with more than 1700 other runners, I was grateful I pushed myself to make it, and had just a couple regrets about the extra beer or two the night before. Oak Brook is a beautiful suburb with lots of forest preserve trails for running, and a number of secluded 'country' roads past beautiful homes. The course has rolling hills, and takes you alongside Salt Creek and through several bridges over it.
I ran along at what was a comfortable pace for me, and got the chance to talk to several other runners during the race, something I would rarely be able to do if I was giving a more competitive effort. It was really enjoyable.
I finished in about 1:45, and my family even met me at the finish line. My kids were a little more interested in going to the park afterward, but it meant a lot to see
them there. And I'm sure they were probably appreciative that actually still had enough energy left to play with them!
I could get used to this. Well at least until the next race.
See you on the roads.....
Comments