So once again, I'm a bundle of nerves during race week. I'm running the 3M Half Marathon in Austin, TX this Sunday and while I'm super excited, I'm also freaking out a bit. The last time I raced was The Richmond Half Marathon in November. That race was my first since Boston last April so I went into it insanely nervous. I hadn't raced in a long time, I didn't feel like my training had been at the level it should have been and to be perfectly honest, I was terrified of embarrassing myself.
It seems that qualifying for Boston is both a blessing and a curse. Once you do, you feel like you can do anything which is a good thing. But so does everyone around you which can be a bit daunting. Everyone automatically thinks you are a Kenyan and can run like the wind. I like to think I can get speedy with proper training but I'm certainly not born with a gift. It takes work. Lots of consistent work. So when I don't put that work in, I panic. Such was the case for Richmond. I was sure I was going to bonk. Turns out, it was fine. Once I got started, the nerves vanished and I just ran. I had a really great experience with friends and felt like, "Ok, I can do this. I can start racing again."
I signed up for Austin because my husband is there for business this week and wanted me to come spend the weekend. As most runners do, the first thing I did was check for any possible races during that weekend....I know, I'm quite the romantic. I was very excited to see that the 3M Half was happening on the same weekend so immediately signed up.
Training has been going really well, I felt 100% prepared until two weeks ago when after taking a step class, I felt a funky twinge in my right hamstring. Actually, I think it's more lower glute than hamstring because it's up pretty high and doesn't travel down my leg, rather side to side. I went on a group run of 12.5 miles on the 15th and all was well but starting around mile 6, I could feel it slowly creeping in. I finished fine and it just felt like a mild annoyance more than anything else so I didn't give it much thought. Oh, and as usual, I didn't stretch. When am I going to learn how important it is to stretch?? The next morning, it was killing me. I'm talking, limping around the house killing me.
The next week (last week), I didn't run at all. Not a single mile. I went to Body Pump once but that was it. I rested it as best I could. Then on Sunday, I decided to give it a try. Hopped on the treadmill and made it to 4.5 before it started hurting again. I stopped at 5 miles and worried. And worried, and worried. Yesterday morning, it seemed ok so like a moron, I decided to test it again. I ran 6 miles yesterday and again, starting at the 4-5 mile mark it started talking to me. Now this morning, it's quite sore. I was hobbling to the bus stop with my son and seriously ready to cry. What the hell?! Obviously I'm going to rest it today and see how I feel tomorrow but I have no idea what to do.
Maybe I should just forget about the race - I don't mean not run it, I mean just go and try and "enjoy the experience" (ugh) - and instead, think about how much fun it will be to have a weekend away with my husband. No kids! No dog! No toilets to clean!!! I'm trying to see that glass as half full!
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