The Update of the Month...Since I Was Lazy

Swim: not much, but got back into it last week...

Bike: None…after the getting hit by a car 3 weeks ago

Run: A lot!

Basically here is the quick rundown of my last few weeks:

March 2- UW Stevens Point — 15:34 5k

March 9- Lapped out at Clermont Draft Legal

March 22- WashU Mini Meet – 51.71 400m, 2:01.4 800m

March 27- Hit by car on a training ride

March 29- WashU Invite — dropped out of the 5k @ 2 miles

April 4- WashU Select — 4:05.5 1500m, 1:59.05 800m, :53 400m split

April 12-SLU Invite — 16:10 5k

March was a long, emotional, mentally draining month for me. I had 3 big races planned: SP, Clermont, WashU Invite. I knew it was going to take a lot of physical, emotional, and mental energy to perform well at all three of the races, but I had no doubt I could do it. After coming off a low in Clermont, I was determined to have a good outdoor track opener (and it went well) and run a fast 5k at the second meet. Unfortunately I was hit by a car, and had a nice trip to the ER 2 days before the race was supposed to happen. I already was very much mentally and emotionally invested into the WashU 5k, so I decided to race anyway. The pain was bad enough by mile 2 that I decided to drop out. Looking back on it, I probably should have sat that one out.

 (At least the view was good...)

Outdoor 5k #2 did not go any better. The conditions were not great for racing (steady 18-20mph winds), but once again, I wanted to run 15:15. After 200m I decided to take the race into my own hands and try to make it happen. I ended up coming through the mile in 4:52 (2 seconds faster than I needed to), but I started to slowly fall apart after that. The wind and cooler temps took a toll on me, and probably the fact that I tried to go at it alone, and I was swallowed up by the pack at mile 2 (5:07/10:00). My third mile was just ugly, as I ran 5:30, and closed the last 200m in :38 to finish in 16:10. Was it a smart race? No. Did I learn something? Sure.

 (New running shoes always make things better...right?)

This brings us to the interesting point of this post. I have always been an aggressive racer. This goes all the way back to 5^th and 6^th grade track meets. I have always been coached/taught “big risk, big reward” and I have never been afraid to risk it. If I feel I am in shape to run a certain time, I will go for it. Some may call it dumb, but it is what it is. I’ve always been more of a “I may have 9 bad races/blow ups, then on the 10^th race knock 30 seconds off a 5k” rather than a “2 seconds here, 3 seconds there” for 9 races and a solid season ending race. Is there a right or wrong way to race? I’m not sure. I don’t think I am a patient racer on the track, but in the tri it is usually a different story. I think I will just have to continue to try and find a balance that works.

Now, we are two weeks away from NCCAA (Christian Nationals) and I have qualified in the 400m, 800m, 1500m…but not the 5k. I will be running the 5k, again, this weekend to hit the qualifying standard since that is what I actually want to run at NCCAAs. This weekend will just be about hitting the standard, racing smart, and not worrying about a PR.  The Rose-Hulman Twilight is always a fun meet, so I am looking forward to it.

 (Greenville Mud Run 5k)

Switching gears, I am thankful that everybody I know that ran Boston is safe—I pray for the people and families affected by this horrific, senseless incident. I just don’t understand how anybody could do something like that!

Have a great week, Y’all :)