Hello Runners!
At the Turkey Trot on Saturday I got beat by a young man in high school and a 46 year old. I love this sport! (Not the being beat part. I am not really fond of that.) This is everyone's sport. A life long sport. Sometimes I feel bad for athletes in team sports. Once your high school or college career is over, chances are you'll never get that thrill again. A runner can compete just about every weekend for the rest of their life if they want. I think I still have quite a few years of improvement left, but even after that I'll be able to go out and compete against all the other old men in my age group and more importantly myself. This is a sport where I can pay my entry fee and race the best in the world. Not many athletes can say that. We runners are pretty lucky.
It was a beautiful morning for the race. I was a volunteer last year and nearly got blown away. Full results can be found here. Congratulations to Colin Johnson for picking up the win in very lonely fashion. It can be tough to win a race off the front and still run a good time. Evidently Colin doesn't know that. Congrats to Team R3's own Kate Hover for winning the women's race. Kate bounced back from a poor race at the Clarksville Half and strep throat to run a pretty impressive race. Running a good such race after a terrible one can be pretty hard too. Evidently Kate didn't know that. Congratulations to everyone else who came out, and thanks for supporting the local running scene.
I was pretty happy with my race. My time wasn't very good for me, but that was to be expected. More importantly I was closer to where I need to be mentally. Plus, it was more fun going to a race and spending time with friends than running by myself.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Keep it up!
Devin
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A big hill!
Hello runners!
A few of us headed to Camden TN this past Saturday to run the Pilot Knob 10k. Ouch... The course is an out and back and just happens to turn around at the highest point in our part of TN. It is a steep and brutal climb. It is the kind of hill that keeps going around corners, and every time you go around one you hope you are at the top. You aren't. Adding insult to injury is the fact that it is hard to come down too! Too steep to relax and stride back down. There are some more rolling hills on the way back to the finish line. It is a tough race.
I ran the Pilot Knob 10k in 2008 too (managed to win) so I knew what I was getting myself into. The thing is I was actually really looking forward to it. I like going to courses that you know are next to impossible to run fast on. Especially when I'm not in shape or low on motivation (like right now for example). You can just race and be happy with your effort. That's really what racing should be. Don't always get hung up on running a PR. Just be the best you can be here and now. Luckily if you stick to that strategy you will PR, I promise.
I decided I'd just go out with Chuck (who was just going to go out with the leaders). Shortly after the start there was three of us out front. Just after the mile mark I felt like I was working pretty hard and decided to conserve for the climb. Too little too late. Chuck and the other runner pulled away easily. My race plan had totally failed before the turn around. Two more racers past me on the ascent and I stayed in fifth the rest of the day. Chuck had a great day mentally, if not physically, and brought home the win. After the race he told me he just decided he was going to push it and win, instead of giving up and settling for second. That is a really good sign for Chuck, and a bad sign for the people racing him.
It is amazing how it can come down to something that simple. Just a decision to go. I've been in that position a lot. Sometimes I choose to go, sometimes I don't. I wish I knew the secret to making the right choice. Like the saying goes "If it were easy...".
Post race my leg felt pretty bad. I had to do some traveling on Sunday and Monday and didn't log any miles, so it remains to be seen if I've done any more damage. As I sit here typing it doesn't feel like it. I hope not. I have to choose to run tonight...
Keep it up!
Devin
A few of us headed to Camden TN this past Saturday to run the Pilot Knob 10k. Ouch... The course is an out and back and just happens to turn around at the highest point in our part of TN. It is a steep and brutal climb. It is the kind of hill that keeps going around corners, and every time you go around one you hope you are at the top. You aren't. Adding insult to injury is the fact that it is hard to come down too! Too steep to relax and stride back down. There are some more rolling hills on the way back to the finish line. It is a tough race.
I ran the Pilot Knob 10k in 2008 too (managed to win) so I knew what I was getting myself into. The thing is I was actually really looking forward to it. I like going to courses that you know are next to impossible to run fast on. Especially when I'm not in shape or low on motivation (like right now for example). You can just race and be happy with your effort. That's really what racing should be. Don't always get hung up on running a PR. Just be the best you can be here and now. Luckily if you stick to that strategy you will PR, I promise.
I decided I'd just go out with Chuck (who was just going to go out with the leaders). Shortly after the start there was three of us out front. Just after the mile mark I felt like I was working pretty hard and decided to conserve for the climb. Too little too late. Chuck and the other runner pulled away easily. My race plan had totally failed before the turn around. Two more racers past me on the ascent and I stayed in fifth the rest of the day. Chuck had a great day mentally, if not physically, and brought home the win. After the race he told me he just decided he was going to push it and win, instead of giving up and settling for second. That is a really good sign for Chuck, and a bad sign for the people racing him.
It is amazing how it can come down to something that simple. Just a decision to go. I've been in that position a lot. Sometimes I choose to go, sometimes I don't. I wish I knew the secret to making the right choice. Like the saying goes "If it were easy...".
Post race my leg felt pretty bad. I had to do some traveling on Sunday and Monday and didn't log any miles, so it remains to be seen if I've done any more damage. As I sit here typing it doesn't feel like it. I hope not. I have to choose to run tonight...
Keep it up!
Devin
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Still trying to find motivation
Hello Runners,
I should be back. My leg seems fine, I'm healthy, not a good excuse to be found. But, I just don't want it yet. Every night I set an alarm for 5:00 am so I can get up and run. Every morning, I reset it for 6:30 so I barely have time to finish a bowl of cereal and hit the road. So I have to run after work, and it seems like a chore. I helped pace a friend of mine in the Clarksville Half Marathon last weekend, and I thought I was pumped and ready to go after that. Nope...
Who am I? I am definitely not the same guy who was training for Memphis last year. I've retained a surprising amount of my fitness, but none of my drive. Once I start a run I am fine. The problem seems to be starting. I know once I string some consecutive days together it will get easier and easier, even routine. I know I'm happier when I'm running in the morning and logging a lot of miles. So why haven't I strung together many consecutive days? Why aren't I running in the morning and logging a lot of miles? I have no idea. That's just not who I am right now. Right now running 5 days a week (or even less) and only 5 miles a run (or even less) seems like enough.
What I do know is that it won't be enough for much longer. I know I can't quit (I've tried before). No matter who I am, he is a runner. Just like everything else in this sport, given time it is going to get better. I'll pick a race and get in shape. I'll run a race and get embarrassed back into serious training. I'll wake up one morning and my mind will be right. Running takes faith. Faith that all of these miles will be worth it. Faith that even though the weather is terrible, it'll be worth it. Most importantly faith in yourself. My faith is shaken, but not broken. Never broken.
I'll be the old me again...
Keep it up!
Devin
I should be back. My leg seems fine, I'm healthy, not a good excuse to be found. But, I just don't want it yet. Every night I set an alarm for 5:00 am so I can get up and run. Every morning, I reset it for 6:30 so I barely have time to finish a bowl of cereal and hit the road. So I have to run after work, and it seems like a chore. I helped pace a friend of mine in the Clarksville Half Marathon last weekend, and I thought I was pumped and ready to go after that. Nope...
Who am I? I am definitely not the same guy who was training for Memphis last year. I've retained a surprising amount of my fitness, but none of my drive. Once I start a run I am fine. The problem seems to be starting. I know once I string some consecutive days together it will get easier and easier, even routine. I know I'm happier when I'm running in the morning and logging a lot of miles. So why haven't I strung together many consecutive days? Why aren't I running in the morning and logging a lot of miles? I have no idea. That's just not who I am right now. Right now running 5 days a week (or even less) and only 5 miles a run (or even less) seems like enough.
What I do know is that it won't be enough for much longer. I know I can't quit (I've tried before). No matter who I am, he is a runner. Just like everything else in this sport, given time it is going to get better. I'll pick a race and get in shape. I'll run a race and get embarrassed back into serious training. I'll wake up one morning and my mind will be right. Running takes faith. Faith that all of these miles will be worth it. Faith that even though the weather is terrible, it'll be worth it. Most importantly faith in yourself. My faith is shaken, but not broken. Never broken.
I'll be the old me again...
Keep it up!
Devin
Friday, November 6, 2009
Somtimes a bad day goes good
Hello Runners!
Tomorrow is a pretty big day for Clarksville runners. Quite a few of my friends are lacing up their shoes and hitting the road. I'm nervous for them, but not as nervous as some of them are.
This little blog is about a couple of my best races, and some bad days. Hopefully it will help my some of you relax when things seem like they might be shitty. My best 10k ever was at the Alabama Relays. Two of my teammates and I drove down with our coach during our spring break. The week before we left my workouts were terrible. I slept on the floor of a freezing cold house (no electricity in the house we hadn't officially moved into yet...). I had to make about five bathroom stops during my warmup. Then, I ran a huge PR. All the pressure of wanting to run fast was gone, and I just ran. I stood in the pool at the hotel and felt joy. I called my parents (they are, after all, my biggest fans).
Tom King 2008 was another one of those days. I barely slept the night before (personal life drama too silly to be repeated here). The morning brought thunderstorms and chilly temperatures. I was already writing my excuses. I warmed up thinking about how terrible the day was going to be. Then I put on my racing flats... Every negative thought was gone, replaced by "man these flats feel good". I walked to the starting line, getting more confident. By the time the race started I was thinking about winning. As I passed the rest of the field after the turn around, I felt a surge of emotion. Not happy, or sad, just emotion. I had to reign myself in. It was unreal. I ended up winning that day. The biggest win of my "career". I may never have a win that big again.
The point of all of this rambling is that bad days can be good before you reach the finish line. Just plant one positive seed. Just run.
Keep it up!
Devin
Tomorrow is a pretty big day for Clarksville runners. Quite a few of my friends are lacing up their shoes and hitting the road. I'm nervous for them, but not as nervous as some of them are.
This little blog is about a couple of my best races, and some bad days. Hopefully it will help my some of you relax when things seem like they might be shitty. My best 10k ever was at the Alabama Relays. Two of my teammates and I drove down with our coach during our spring break. The week before we left my workouts were terrible. I slept on the floor of a freezing cold house (no electricity in the house we hadn't officially moved into yet...). I had to make about five bathroom stops during my warmup. Then, I ran a huge PR. All the pressure of wanting to run fast was gone, and I just ran. I stood in the pool at the hotel and felt joy. I called my parents (they are, after all, my biggest fans).
Tom King 2008 was another one of those days. I barely slept the night before (personal life drama too silly to be repeated here). The morning brought thunderstorms and chilly temperatures. I was already writing my excuses. I warmed up thinking about how terrible the day was going to be. Then I put on my racing flats... Every negative thought was gone, replaced by "man these flats feel good". I walked to the starting line, getting more confident. By the time the race started I was thinking about winning. As I passed the rest of the field after the turn around, I felt a surge of emotion. Not happy, or sad, just emotion. I had to reign myself in. It was unreal. I ended up winning that day. The biggest win of my "career". I may never have a win that big again.
The point of all of this rambling is that bad days can be good before you reach the finish line. Just plant one positive seed. Just run.
Keep it up!
Devin
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