Unprepared and a Little Scared

I know, I know, I haven't written in a million years (i.e. two months). Life has been CRAZY. I really don't even have time to write now, but I'm racing tomorrow and I wanted to get my goals in writing beforehand.

Training for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler hasn't gone well. A long, bitter-cold, snowy winter led to many treadmill runs, most of which ended in failure. Either the room was too hot or my knee hurt too much or I just got too bored, and cut my distance short more often than not. It was rough.

When I finally started getting outside again, things improved, but then I was felled by a sinus infection. Though the doctor told me it was safe to run before the infection cleared up, I just wasn't tough enough to push through the pain. Then the antibiotic did a number on my stomach and I lost more running days. Even once I felt better, it was a struggle to resume training. My final attempt at a long run ended after 2 miles due to knee pain.

So here I sit, the night before the race, feeling unprepared and wondering whether I should switch to the 5K. I think I will leave that decision for morning though -- a warm-up jog might give me an idea of how my knee is feeling, and maybe race-day adrenaline will give me the courage I need just to go for it! If I do attempt the 10-mile run, I've made my peace with the fact that there is a pretty good chance I will end up too slow for the pace cut-off and not be permitted to finish the distance. This could very well be my first official DNF. Even if it is, I don't think it will be as traumatic as my first 5K, which technically I DID finish but which felt like a DNF in my mind because I had failed at the one rigid goal I set for myself.

I've gotten smarter with goals since then, and will continue my practice of setting 3 for the race:
Easy: Start and finish the 5K race.
Realistic: Complete 5 miles of the 10-miler ahead of the cut-off time.
Reach: Complete 8 miles of the 10-miler ahead of the cut-off time.
Impossible Dream: Complete all 10 miles.

Okay, I said 3, and normally I do 3, but I figured I'd throw that last one in there. Of course I'd love to finish the race, but I think it's beyond even a normal "reach" goal at this point. Still, I typed it out, because you never know.

Well, that's it for now. I need to get some rest if I'm going to achieve any of my goals tomorrow. No matter what happens, it's going to be a wonderful day, with beautiful weather, cherry blossoms in full bloom, and the chance to RUN in the midst of all that. Being able to run is a blessing, whether it goes according to plan or not.