The intensity level of the race nerves were higher than usual for this particular race. I missed my Monday run due to a busy work day, on Tuesday I dismissed my interval workout and opted for an easy run due to inclement weather, and on Wednesday I ran a short set of 300s with Guero on the Santa Fe trail after work. An overall easy week for me, however, once Thursday came around, no manchen, me sentí pal perro. As I walked up the stairs that evening after an easy 6, I noticed an astonishing layer of fatigue start to set in. I didn't direct my attention to much to it, but later than night, as I savored my lemon pepper salmon with rice & veggies, I felt flu-style sick. And to top off pre-race anxiety, my 3-mile shake-out Friday morning felt 10x more demanding than anything I had done that week.
Needless to say, as I was changing in the parking lot 10 minutes before the race, my ability to create a positive outlook was floundering through the density of the previous paragraph. Yes, ^^ that one up there ^^
But somehow my tale took a turn.
Even after a mental malfunction, I ended up establishing one of the best 10ks of my life: 37:16 (the course was a bit long, but that's okay). Unfortunately for me, with the race-day franticness stunting my cognitive abilities-- I forgot to put my ankle chip on before heading to the start line. No record exists. Only memories & feelings.
As I sit here during a winter storm warning, I can't help but think that I could have given more to this one. I rate my overall perceived effort to be be about a 7 out of 10. Physically, I felt whole the entire race, however, another thing to note aside from the mental components is that my warm-up was a little rushed. I kept wanting to attack after the 4th mile, but for the life of me, my legs wouldn't loosen up despite feeling great. Lots of things to work on these next few weeks before DDG.
For now, I continue to build my confidence through words, strides, and paint marks.
Feast on your life,
octavio/erik/el mudo
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