I had a couple of points during Saturday’s LC10K where the going got tough, especially the climb just past Mile 4. We all experience self doubt at some stage of just about every race we run. It is that very doubt that is your biggest challenge of any race, not your competitors. It helps to have role models that you can look up to, here is one of my inspirations when The Struggles begin in a race:
Even the very best runners have those Difficult Days. One particular athlete’s unfortunately came on the biggest stage for marathoning. The athlete finally struggled in very last but considered this one of the biggest victories against Self Doubt and the marathon. Suffering mightily from around 10 miles but determined to tough it out. Imagine how difficult it would be to pass up that temptation, not only the little voice in your head but while watching others fall by the wayside.
My buddy let the other runners drop out and kept plugging away for the next 13 miles, every stride more painful and less rewarding than the previous. I’ll always Respect this runner and mention their name when I describe what sets National Class runners apart from the rest of us merely mortals. The ability to Not Quit, despite every fiber in your being insisting you do so. Such is the marathon for most of us, but just as likely to occur in any race if you are giving it your honest best. So my question on Saturday was, Mentally Tough or Mentally Weak? I pressed on and ended up with a decent race, my overall time a little fast due to a just slightly short course, but the effort honest and rewarding.
I did however end up passing 513 of the 565 women that had the 5:30 head start. At a quarter each I am donating $128.25 to our TNB Children’s Running Program. Thank you so much to Danielle Galvin for matching the pledge, you too can help support our Kids Runs by making a tax free donation in any amount. You can make checks out to Team Nebraska Brooks and mail to 18312 Ontario St., Omaha NE, 68130. Our kids and our community thank you! I’m going to make this an annual challenge and invite others to also participate.
Week 1 of track workouts is here. For those running/racing the Blarney Stone 5K on Thursday, keep Wednesday easy. Get out on the track and get reaquainted with the Good Oval. 1-1.5 mile warm up then 1 mile of running the straights @ goal 5K effort, jogging the curves for recovery, then a 1-1.5 mile warm down. If you are focusing rather on the Lincoln Marathon you are surely in good shape already and ready for more advanced training. Same 1-1.5 mile warm up then 1 X 2 Miles at Goal Marathon Pace, 800 meter recovery, 1 X 1 Mile at GMP, then 1-1.5 mile warm down. If you are running the Lincoln Half Marathon, do a 2 mile warm up then 1 X 2 Miles at Goal Half Marathon Pace, then a 2 mile warm down. We’ll be focusing and building on Goal Marathon Pace and Goal Half Marathon Pace for the next 6 weeks.
A change to this year’s Wednesday workouts is that we will be focusing on more advanced training for those with specific racing goals for the spring/summer/fall. For now we will still meet at 6pm at Millard West. I’m looking at possibly scheduling on another evening if the consensus supports.
If you are looking for beginning level track workouts I would strongly encourage you to join Life Time Fitness, enroll in the Run Club, and meet Sandy Bikus and Joseph O’Meara at 6 pm, Elkhorn Ridge Middle School, also beginning this Wednesday. There is no better motivator in Omaha than Sandy and the current group is as fun and social as can be. Friends sharing the same goal of promoting running, family fitness, and camaraderie.
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