In my mind, if I tell people, and then don't succeed, I have to face that over and over again - each person asking how the event went. If I don't tell anyone, then no one asks about it, and I can just wallow on my own.
This past weekend, I ran the Tryon Half Marathon, in Tryon, NC. I registered about a month ago, as way to guarantee a long run prior to the Huntersville Half, which I am planning on running next month. I had not done a half marathon, or even a half training run, in over 5 months.
For some reason, over the course of this past week, I got it in my head that I really, really wanted this race to be my Sub-2. For the non-runners out there - there are certain goals some runners set for themselves as they race - a first 5k, a 10k, a half marathon, then a full marathon. Runners also decide to achieve time goals - can I run a 5k faster than 20 minutes? Can I finish a 10k in under an hour?
Sub-2 is a goal of completing a half marathon in under 2 hours.
Up until this weekend I had run 6 Half Marathons. My slowest being my 2nd (The Scream) at 2 hours 20 minutes. My fastest being the last one, in June, the Charity Chase in Hickory, at 2 hours 6 minutes.
As I completed my training runs this week, I wore my Garmin to gauge my pace and speed. I practiced hill runs. I practiced speed work. I completed an endurance run (12.1 miles). By my estimates, I would finish a half in 2 hours 10 minutes. Then I found a nifty website where you can enter your last several 10k times, your age, etc, and it predicts the finish the time for your next half marathon.
The prediction for me: 2 hours 1 minute and 57 seconds.
Unacceptable. The challenge was on. According to the website I needed to run a 9:09mm/pace to achieve a sub-2 time.
On the car ride to the mountains, I decided to share my goal with my husband. "I want this," I told him, "but I don't know if I can do it."
We had a great discussion about the power of positive thinking; that a huge part of succeeding is thinking that you can succeed.
Could I pull this off? I didn't even know what the race would be like - the website was not very informative about the route, other than it would be a mix of packed gravel (90%) and paved roads (10%). I didn't see an elevation chart until the morning of the race, it was posted next to check-in. It would be hilly. I texted my husband with a sad-face emoticon. I was scared and anxious. I wanted to sub-2, but didn't think I could pull it off on a hilly, gravelly course. I was grateful that I had not told anyone else about my goal, because I didn't want to have to explain my failure. . .But I also wanted to feel the joy and pride of achieving this particular goal - and sharing it with others.
The race started a minute after 8am. It was cool and drizzling, but not freezing. I wore my Garmin, to try and keep myself on track. The screen in the upper right hand corner showed my average pace. My goal was to not let it go above 9:00minutes/mile.
The bad:
It had rained the day before, so the gravel was a bit muddy in spots, and therefore, slippery.
At mile 4.5 as I was trying to get a GU out of my pocket, I dropped it, and had to turn back and pick it up - messed with my momentum.
Rolling hills - not too bad, but again, on gravel, I did not feel sure-footed at several points on the course.
Weird weather - so I did not feel dressed appropriately, and at two points debating on taking off my jacket and just leaving it.
The good:
I was prepared. I had been practicing with nutrition too - and packed two GU gels. I had one at mile 4.5 and another before mile 9. In between those, I had sticks of gum to chew, which I think helps with thirst.
New music playlist I made. Even though I listen on shuffle, several songs came up at perfect moments. It was very motivating and inspiring.
Cooler weather made it easier to breathe, in my opinion.
The better:
I wanted to succeed.
I wanted to text/call my husband and be able to tell him that I finished in under 2 hours.
A few times I found myself thinking negative thoughts. . .I can't do this. . .I'm tired. . .This hill is too steep. . .I quickly changed gears to positive thinking, "I can do this!"
Every time I looked at my watch (way too often), and saw that I was keeping my pace at less than 9:00/mm, I kept thinking, "I've got this!"
The best:
I got my Sub 2.
According to the race site: 1:56:41
According to my Garmin 1:57:00
Average pace (upper right hand corner): 8:58/mm
I am riding a wave of happiness. I want to wear a shirt that announces to the world that I ran a Sub 2. Every now and then I will say out loud, "1:56"! I'm a dork.
My lesson from this experience was that positive thinking really does matter. This is another one of those situations where I KNOW that it's a good thing, but to actually do it? A lot harder.
What would you try to achieve with positive thinking?
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