So as I crossed the finish line of last weekend's race, I was reminded of why I love this sport. The feeling of a runners' high is a real thing and the months of planning and training is the price that you pay for it. But quite honestly not many things top it in my world.
Long before the rubber hits the road so to speak planning for the race begins. The first question I have to ask is "Why?" does this race fit my plan, is it a destination I want to go to, or does it just have really good swag (which has convinced me more than once to run a certain St. Patrick's themed race)? Next question, how does it fit in the family schedule? Before I can commit to a race no less than 6 calendars have to confirm that date is free. Lastly, but certainly not least the entrance fee, I like to register early (mostly ocd related) but you usually get the best deals by doing so. And with a click of the mouse button I'm locked in, all in on this race. After that initial panic attack of "what did I just commit to!!!!" the easy part begins, the training. Racing I believe is all the summation of what you put into training, if you slough off during training, expect to miss your goal simple as that. My goals for this last race were simple and I put in an effort in my training plan to reflect that. I ended last years racing season with an injury and a lack of confidence. But my off season work sharpened my focus and put me in a great spot to build from.
Pre race evening: ugh this is where I go over and over my race day gear, make sure I have everything possible, where am I parking, what am I wearing, which shoes are "up" in the rotation for this race? Over the years I actually have come up with a checklist of what I need to avoid any undue stress. I double check the race itinerary, consult google on travel time, adjust my morning schedule accordingly, and scurry off to rest.
Although I slept like a kid before the last day of school, I can't focus on that come race day morning. A cup of coffee and two slices of peanut butter bread and I'm out the door. Off to the next race, to test my preparation and planning, less to see how I stack up against other runners but how I do against myself.
I'll save the details of the race for another day but it goes off as expected, my performance reflected my training and gives me a baseline to start planning for the next challenge. But as I cross the finish line and get the finishers swag, the euphoria of finishing this latest challenge reminds me why I love racing and why I dedicate this much of my life to it.