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When competitive runners are on a treadmill they tend to get into these secret, let’s-not-talk-about-it “races” with the person next to them.
On Saturday I had to get in an “easy” run while we were home in Buffalo. The power had gone out the night before, I was up late helping set up the generator, etc etc, long story short, I overslept.
I woke up with a serious lack of energy and the sun already beating down on a day that was already in the 80′s.
I laced up, and groggily headed out the door. As I made a left off of my parents side street to the main road I noticed someone in front of me by about a half mile. I figured “eh what the heck” and began to chase them down. I decided doing this would wake me up.
After a minute of not gaining at all, I started to work real hard. I ran two straight 7:20 miles before finally catching this person. I say “good morning” knowing now I am going to have to maintain this pace to go past, or look like some sort of jerk “racing” on the roads during a training run. Oops.
So instead of saying good morning back she says “Ya wanna race”? Listen here ya crazy girl, I just spent two miles chasing you down at damn near 7 minute pace. So of course, I can’t say no!
She picks up the pace, and we are running close to a 7 minute mile and chatting. It turns out she just ran the Buffalo half marathon. I explained I was getting ready for a 50k. She asked if I was planning on running this pace for the entire 50K.
That would not be possible… but it’s cool to dream about.
After about a mile, we got to her street and she turned to e nd her run. I continued on a little ways (for prides sake) and then broke my pace down to where it should be for 80 degrees, sunshine, long run, and tired Saturday morning.
I ended up getting in my miles, and also ended up pretty much thrashing my legs on a planned “easy” run. I jumped in my parents pool after the run with all my clothes on.. sat in there for a bit and then went to a wedding that night. Needless to say my legs were spent.
What is the point of all of this? I guess it is that I am still pretty c ompetitive. I knew nothing about this runner off in the distance, but I knew I wanted to catch them. It was almost as if I did not have a choice though, something made me do it.
Do you ever find yourself racing during training runs? Do you know you shouldn’t, but you do it anyway? Has anyone ever “raced” you and made you laugh at how silly it seemed? Are you competitive with other things in life?
Let me know.
I try not to get caught up in this too often so I will throw responsibility out the window and say Saturday wasn’t my fault.
Keep on keepin on everyone!
