The February of Stress continues. Only one more day of being homeless. I have some very patient friends and family…
Super Sunday 5 Miler
Yet another race put on by my friends over at RaceMenu and RaceEvents. The race they produced I came in third in my AG, but the competition that day was split with a race across the river in Cambridge. I knew that given the difficulty I’ve had focusing in 2012 and the level of competition meant that I would be a bit farther back than I would like, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to race this and see how well I could do. Stretch goal was sub-30, but I assumed that I’d probably end up running 6:10ish pace the entire way. And as always, there was the fear of the debilitating #(p)oops. My race plan, if I had one, was to go 6:10, 6:08, 6:06, 6:04 and 6:02, but the course wasn’t entirely set up for that, and I knew it: I had prerun the course the previous week with Brendan (of RaceMenu fame), Meg, Julia and other RaceMenu teammates and friends. Not significantly hilly at all, but enough to get my stomach knotted on the uphills when I push too hard. So, like I said, given where everything stood, I didn’t think a 30:00 was in the cards. 
Started off right next to Matt Corr, except I had no idea who he was except for some guy on twitter that I talk trash with. Pretty much immediately ended up in a gap between the lead pack of 20 or so and chasers. By mile 1, I was all alone, chasing the group in front of me and not really catching them quickly/at all. My first mile had been a 6:06ish, so I didn’t think I had spent too much, but in hindsight, perhaps I had. By mile 3 I was coughing pretty violently (to the point where I actually pulled up for a second) trying to clear my mouth of spit or whatever. At this point, I just wanted the race to end. My finishing position was pretty much locked up (one guy behind me probably ran a sub-6 last mile and passed me with .2 miles to go) and I was just kind of hoping to get what I could out of the day.
Final time was 31 even. Good for 25th. Given how everything has been in January/early February, I’ll take it. Time to get my mojo back and kick this shit into high gear: Rev3 Costa Rica is right around the corner. I’ve got to get my weight back down, got to get back on the bike, got to get focused. Saying that means nothing if I don’t follow through. In the words of Coach Steve: Stop getting in your own way of your stated goals. Observe, PROact, plan, commit, DO.
