Route: Elf 10k Race Ocononowoc (Race Results) .. A race and benefit for Children with Cancer
Activity: Run
Google Maps URL:http://j.mp/hIy0Zn
Started: Nov 28, 2010 9:00:42 AM
Run Time: 45:51
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 6.32 miles
Average: 7:16 /mile
Fastest Pace: 6:49 /mile
The little runner necklace that my Mom and Dad gave to me when I first started racing, 31 years ago. I now wear it once again, without taking it off. .. It always served as my Good Luck emblem ... Thank you Mom and Dad for always believing in me and for instilling belief and hope in me that has lasted in all of my life, throughout my life ... Running has been one of my teachers along with the nature that I run through and photograph .. along with my wonderful animal friends.
Notes: So this is more like it ! This race was great and much more along the lines of what I expected (but shouldn’t have) in the race last week.
Rather than do all of my “normal” Pre race planning like tapering, etc I just ran all week whatever I felt. Two days before I ran a pretty hard 5 mile run. It was beneficial in that, since I am just being “re birthed” into racing as a second chapter in my life, it helped me to accurately see how I need to warm up at least a mile before I start to feel my pace. Once I feel my pace something literally “clicks” inside me and I can play with my pace. It’s at that point that I know myself so very well. It’s then that my focus becomes so intense and I’m completely into a meditative flow. Running becomes a dance that expresses this zone.
So, no Pre-race slow downs and a focus set Pre race for no expectations other than to enjoy it. That got me to thinking of how do I get that warmup in? My runs all start with a super slow 10 min mile to get my feet and legs warmed up. Then comes the gradual increase in speed and then somewhere around 2 miles I feel that “switch” turn on that says,”Alright,’you know your pace. Now go! Play!”
So I visualized what I needed to do and did it yesterday. Not more than 30 minutes before the race did I begin to warm up. I ran that warm up 10 minute mile, hoping that it would act as that primer even though there would be a gap of time between that mile and he actual race. Movement, stretching would help keep that warm up “attached” to the race. It did. Visualization is better and stronger than it’s ever been for me before. .. Visualization/mental imagery used to be used just for winning but now I engage it for running the race I want to run right now, my race. It takes more presence of mind to run this way, to visualize this way. Winning was easy, but holding back when you need to, even conserving is harder, but necessary …
The art of visualization was huge for me in this race. Once that switch was on and I could play I kept myself in check. I was flowing, it felt easy and light. That’s where I wanted to be, to stay.
Mile 4 still felt great at 6:45 pace but I backed it down a bit to keep feeling the ease and to have fun. I probably could have kept it faster, but I wanted to be smarter and ease back into this racing world with a gentle, fast and fun spirit that running is to me.
I felt like a gazelle barely landing on my toes before I leap again forward.
I’m happy with this race. Not because the time was great, because it’s not super duper fast … I’m happy with the way I raced, my attitude, with the wisdom and focus I ran with. To master the tools of focus, vision and wisdom of prior racing is progress I’m happy and thankful for .., … who knows what the future of racing holds?
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