I want my day!!

Since the Richmond marathon I've been focusing on getting ready for our local half marathon. Eight weeks of keeping honest with the weekly runs, and continuing to watch what I eat made the holidays fly by. Even when my family was here (the week after Christmas) I managed to get all of my workouts in, minus one or two when we were on the road for a special event.

In all that time, I've still been a little ticked off at how my race went back in November. Yeah, it was hot... but I've run in hotter weather. Granted, I run in hot weather all the time, and can be prepared for it. This race? Nope. Not ready for it. How could I be? Who expects 63-80 degree temperature swings in one day with a humidity level that remains above 95% the entire time..... IN NOVEMBER??? In Richmond? gak!

So, no,.... as my coach says, I "didn't have my day" that day. I'm still annoyed. I want my day.

Then, I lost my longest long run before the upcoming half to an entire weekend in bed hacking up a lung. Gross. At least the forced rest actually worked. Well, that, and the wonder of the pharmeceutical industry. Gotta love those decongestants!! So, I feel woefully low on miles. I'm probably only about at 95% as it is.... and I want my day! The weather is supposed to be frigid (for us, anyway) but clear. Last year it was "just" cold.... and wet. Check that.... slushy. No, snowy. Or, was it sleeting? Oh yeah..... it was ALL OF THAT. (*Squish squish squish*) went my shoes. So, give me super cold and clear any day over just cool/cold and wet.

At one point, this was going to be a "B+" race. Now... it seems to be slipping, B-....C. I'm not quite sure. I do know that I need to get a handle on what my goals are for the race. Then, I'll have a better idea of what my "jobs" are during the race. I've run the course many times. It's "rolling hills" with nothing hugely steep, but enough to make you wonder why you decided to run it.... especially near the end.

I have lost any semblance of connection with my own personal fitness, and that makes the goal setting process much more difficult. I just don't know what I can do at this point. I almost wonder if I really "get" my body.... because I thought Richmond was going to be great. Hard to be true, but great. And it wasn't. My body just went on vacation, without me.

Right now, I'm tired. I'll rest tomorrow and run on Saturday....but for now, I'm tired. So, is this a "good" sort of tired, and the legs will come through for me on Saturday? Dunno. Is this the kind of tired you get when you're not really rested or tapered? Dunno. I know that I haven't been too terribly tapered for the race. But, was what I got enough? Will missing that last 10 mile run hurt me?

2:36:29.... that's the time "to beat."

Did I mention..... I want my day!