Race Thoughts

I've been neglectful in my blog lately. We've had a ton of stuff going on and, honestly, I just don't have the mental power to put anything together these days. I feel like posts should have content that are meaningful to someone, even if that someone is just me. Today may be one of those "just meaningful to me" posts. So, go ahead and skip it if you don't feel like reading a self-indulgent post. :)

The Indy Mini is on Saturday. Each year since I've been blogging, I've put together some pre-race (and post-race) thoughts into a post and this post is that post for this race.

I'm nervous. I know I always get nervous and that energy is probably a good energy to have, but still I'm not very used to it. I am not typically a person who competes in any type of athletic event. Ever. It's a foreign feeling to have these intense butterflies in my belly.

This is a cool race. I found a video of the race course. (Yes, you do pass by the elephants at the zoo. I may miss the Brick Yard every year, but I always catch the elephants!) While it is definitely not a pretty course, it is SO flat. :) And, the crowd is great. I love the milestone of arriving on the track around mile 6 and leaving it around mile 8. It makes those three miles fly by.


I realized while re-reading my other posts that each race has it's own set of circumstances leading up to the big day. In 2011, I had knee problems two weeks before the race. In 2012, I had sprained my ankle in February, then got bronchitis and strep throat two weeks before the race.

This year, I've been injury and sickness free. {Insert Knock on Wood here.} I've felt relatively good on my runs even though I haven't fit enough in this time around. I get angry with myself because I think I could actually throw down an even better time if I would put in the effort to push myself.

I missed my long run last weekend which I think is really throwing off my mojo and messing with my confidence. I did squeeze in 7 on Monday, but per my training plan, I was supposed to do 13. Honestly, that was probably too much anyway, but I still don't like missing those long runs. Then, today, I choose to do only 7 instead of the 11 called for on the plan. 11 just didn't seem like enough of a taper. Plus, Tom made a good point that anything I do this week will probably not directly help me next Saturday. I'm past the point of improving so I just need to stay limber and not hurt myself.

So, while I don't feel extremely confident, I do feel like I'll be able to finish this thing no problem. Here's what I'll be thinking about this week.

1. I can set a course record for myself. This is totally within my reach. {This is my goal.}
2. I may be able to set a personal best for myself. Some of this will just depend on my feelings for the day, the crowd and the weather. But, it is within reach. {This is my "stretch" goal.}
3. I need to power through miles 10-13. I'll be helping myself along this time with some Gu packs (which is a 1st for this race) and working very hard on the self-talk. I've been working on visualizing the last two miles of my long runs as the last two miles of the race. I'll be visualizing those two miles, and how good it feels, this week as well.
4. Before I know it, it will all be over. And, that is an awesome feeling.
5. I'll be guzzling water like there's no tomorrow. I know I was dehydrated the last two times around. Last May, it was SO hot and I felt it. Then, in October, I felt horrible afterward, which I'm attributing to hydration. Water is on the menu all week.

So, that's that. I'll be back to post my results. In the meantime, here are the results from my previous races.

2009 Mini - Corral ? (Tom thinks it was something like W - whatever it was, it took 41 minutes to get to the start line) - 2:04:50

2011 Mini - Corral ? (I seem to remember something like L - this time it only took 16 minutes.) - 2:02:43

2012 Mini - Corral F (Only 5 1/2 minutes to the starting line!) - 2:03:33

2012 Indianpolis - 1:57:40

2013 Mini - TBD :) (I am in Corral D though, my best yet!)