Tuning Up

The whole idea that I could chase the unicorn developed at the beginning of the year.  Last year, I attempted to run a 50 mile race and ended up being pulled from the course after 38 miles.  I have completed 50 milers before but when the temperature climbed to over 105 degrees, the wheels fell off and nothing stayed down (I literally spent 7-8 hours vomiting).  

This year, I swore revenge.  I will not attempt the 50 mile distance at this race (at least not this year) but I will do the 50K (about 31 miles) distance...and I'm going to CRUSH it.

To do so, I need speed work.  And while doing speed work, I decided to throw in a 5K, just to see how it would go--kind of like a test of the training program so far.

The Miracle Match Marathon (MMM) is held annually in Waco Texas (close to my home).  It is a wonderfully organized race and raises funds and awareness for bone marrow donors--a cause I can totally support.  I have never run the marathon, however, because it is always held on a Sunday.  I don’t race on Sunday’s because that’s the Sabbath Day (see Exodus 20:8 from the Bible).  I try not be be too preachy about my belief; to each his/her own, right?  And I don’t judge anyone who does race on Sundays...I’m sure there are many people who feel closer to God while running a marathon than any other time but my choice is to not race Sundays.  

But, the MMM also offers a 5K the Saturday before the big race.  Nancy, the race director of MMM, who in some ways is a hero of mine, had previously given me a hard time about not supporting her race.  I wanted to support MMM, Nancy and bone marrow donor awareness.  So 5K it was.

I finished the race in 19:04...certainly not an Olympic time but one second faster than I had ever run a 5K before...which meant that the training was working and maybe it was time to once again chase the unicorn. That averaged out to a 6:40 mile...just about right in line with what I need to BQ.