MAYBE, JUST MAYBE

After Monday’s workouts, I knew anything would be tough on Tuesday. Since I stayed up about two hours more than usual on Monday night, I decided to sleep in on Tuesday. Figuring I’d be tired Tuesday evening, I was planning on running right when I got home from work. However, my wife called and wanted me to pick up dinner and then Kinsey wanted to go ice skating.

In the end, I took the day off.

I figure I could have run an easy 5 miles on the treadmill at 8 PM, but the thought of that didn’t sound appealing in the least. So I settled on a zero and headed to bed around 8:45.

This morning I ran an easy 11 miles. Even with the easy pace, I never felt like I got going.

I’m keeping close watch on things now – thinking I probably crossed the line with last week’s training. And staying up till 11 on Monday didn’t help matters.

I wanted to touch upon a comment I got the other day. Sometimes I think these get lost if people don’t go back frequently to check. Anyway, after stating my goal for 2008 someone said;

It's good to have time goals, but don't get too hung up on them. I ran a 2:57 back in 1995, and had visions of a 2:55 or even 2:50, but actually I never broke 3 hours again.

As long as you can leave a race and say "I ran the best I could today", should be enough.

At some point in your running career, you have to realize that your best races are behind you, and you have to find a new reason to run.

I understand what they’re saying. Heck, I’ve been trying to break 2:55 for years now. Although I haven’t been successful, I don’t let it get me down or keep me from trying.

And I have to disagree with saying “I ran the best I could today” being enough. I mean if I run a 3:30 marathon on 30 mpw, should I be happy because it was the best I could do or should I be pissed because I didn’t train as hard as I was capable of training? I suppose "running the best I could on that day, given my training" should be enough.

Of course there’s going to be a point in my running career where all my best races are behind me, but I'd really rather not know when that happens. I think part of what keeps me lacing my shoes each morning throughout the winter is the thought that this could be the year. Sure I haven’t come within two minutes of my 12-year old 10K PR, but maybe, just maybe, this could be the year…

If all else fails, I’ll just take Double’s suggestion and start finding new distances to race.

In the end, I just want to look back without any regrets and say that running has been a great part of this life - no matter how fast I ran or didn't run.

Quote of the day;

“Runners like to train 100 miles per week because it’s a round number. But I think 88 is a lot rounder.” – Don Kardong