I can’t tell you how many times I’ve false-started this
post. Every season I think I should write about the “Click,” the moment when
things come together, when that hill that left you huffing and puffing no
longer feels significant, when that double digit run feels normal, when the
pace you dreamed of hitting becomes the pace you did just hit.
But every time I think I’m close (Yes! This is it! Things
have clicked!), I have a workout that feels like a giant step backwards. Welp, guess I’m not there yet. Still out of
shape. So I delay writing about it. I keep waiting for
the real Click, as if I can only be sure I’ve made it when every single
workout goes perfectly.
Since RnR DC, I’ve had a couple great track workouts and some
pretty moderately okay tempo runs. (Given my constant struggle with tempo runs,
“moderately okay” counts in the success column.) Things were definitely clicking.
Then, a few weeks ago, I attempted the
season’s first marathon pace workout. In a word, it was terrible. In a few more
words, it was discouraging and demoralizing, the kind of run that makes you
wonder why the heck you do this to yourself. The kind that makes you doubt all
the other good workouts. I guess I haven’t
made any progress.
Click, click… bust.
But this is becoming all too familiar. After a couple of
seasons with the same routine, I’ve had an epiphany. The elusive Click never fully comes. There is no one point where training switches from tough, huffing and puffing to wonderful,
nail-every-workout bliss. No, even after things start to come together, there
will always be bad days. (And historically, my first attempts at marathon pace
runs are often disastrous.) But as training progresses, there will be more and
more moments when you surprise yourself, when suddenly you are keeping up with
the paces that seemed impossible not too long ago. Just because you have a day when
those paces again seem ridiculous doesn’t mean all hope is lost. It doesn’t
mean you’re back where you started.
Even with my (probably perfectly human) attitude of being
more discouraged by the bad than encouraged by the good, I can’t really deny
things are (at least starting to) click. It’s just not in the way I imagined or
hoped for, because it never is. But a couple steps forward and one step
backwards is still progress.
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After years of snapping photos of these guys on my runs, it's finally time to race by 'em. |
Speaking of progress and moving forward, this weekend is my
first official race of the season: on Sunday, I’m popping my Cherry [Blossom].
Shockingly, although the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler is a rite of spring and I’ve
lived in this city for six years now, I’ve never run it. I’ve always had some
marathon that takes April priority. But this year, I’m in and I’m excited to
see how I’ll do. The blossoms are beginning to come out, hopefully the PRs
will, too. Good luck to all those racing!
Dream big,
Teal
You'll get there. You always do.
ReplyDeleteThere are about ten Loopsters doing Cherry Blossom (including me) if you want to meet up. Good luck!
Yes, I'd love to meet up, if possible. Where and when?
ReplyDeleteWe have all the details in a Facebook group, if you accept my friend request I can add you.
ReplyDeleteProposed locations for pre- and post-race meetups: Pre-race at the garden/park on Constitution Ave just west of 15th Street. If I remember last year correctly, it should be just across the portapotty/tent area from the start line. Post-race meetup in front of the American History Museum on the Madison Drive side
Have a great race! Malinda has been sick ever since finishing the RnR DC Marathon so hopefully she'll be well enough to enjoy the race and the blossoms on Sunday! :-)
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this. Wanting to feel that click, being discouraged when it doesn't happen in an overwhelming way. But you are right, the fitness comes and the little things add up. I hope you have a GREAT race this weekend at Cherry Blossom!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura! Looking forward to cheering you on (virtually) at Boston!
DeleteI'm late to the party on this but MAN, can I relate. I feel like that every season as I try to claw my way back to fitness after my post-marathon sluggishness. Looks like you are making great gains though - solid sub-6 minute pace at Cherry Blossom!! Great job, Teal!
ReplyDelete