Finding that inner spark and power to finish my longest run ever #fitwinning

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Race

I was prepared for most anything today. I was prepared to take it slow, maybe walk in places. Mentally I just wanted to finish under 2 hours, since this was going to be easily the longest I had ever run. The longest I had run before was a little over 7 miles, maybe 7.5. So making that jump to 10 was a big step.

I took it easy at first, and it helped that we had a little hill at the beginning, because I am used to that on my training runs so if anything it helped me get into my pace. But still I took it slow, just fell into my regular pace. The next thing I knew the miles were going by. I just stuck to my pace.

Around the 7 mile mark our route took us past what I thought was a loop for our race, so I was a little demoralized when all these people started shooting past me, but I figured they were just the leaders from our race. Even so it was frustrating to see some little kid shoot past me, and see all these other people who looked like they were already done. Then I figured out that our course was just taking us past another race, and all of those runners were from that race!

There were 2 women that I had been keeping pace with most of the race, they would pass me, I would pass them. Well I passed them for good around the 8 mile mark. At that point I began to realize that I was going to be able to keep up my pace the entire race, around 10 minute miles. I slowed a little towards the end, but when we entered the stadium I kicked up a notch and sprinted to the end to finish just a hair under 1 hour, 41 minutes!

Damn that felt good, to finish that race, and finish strong. That was far and away the longest I have ever run. And to do so while keeping a comfortable pace was just so cool. I know I won't be the guy who sprints the entire race, but to keep up that kind of pace, and only walk when drinking water was just a great feeling. It was especially nice to have the final part of the race in a area where just over a year ago I was first starting to take my running past the 3 mile mark. I now feel very ready for that half marathon in a month, and who know what next year holds?