Tuesday Tangents!

(Tank, shorts, shoes)

Oh, the 5k.  It always hurts from the very first step.

We did a 4-mile w/u, and this pic below is from the starting line of our 5k.

I think the combination of traveling, eating out every meal, not getting enough water, and the taper resulted in feeling disastrous.  I averaged a 5:55 on the course yesterday, and leading up to all 5 of my last marathons, I did this segment faster in the past.

But after doing marathons for a long time, I reminded myself that my best marathons have my worst workouts leading up to them.  One workout can’t predict our race day, especially in the taper.

Even during the warm-up and cool-down, I had to slow down.  Somehow, a distance I have been doing almost daily, turned into feeling like I was climbing Mt Everest.

Eleven miles @ 7:26 average.

Listening to this episode is now part of my taper tradition.  It explains all of our craziness.

Two things Ryan Hall talked about that I loved when talking about race nerves were:

1.  What if race nerves are actually the secret weapon?  Why not embrace them?  What if those nerves are one of the things that help us to cover the race distance much faster than we run during training because they help fuel us?  That excitement means we care, and it is a way our body is preparing us to run fast.
2.  When are nerves leading up to a race a bad thing?  If nerves or thoughts leading up to the race are causing anywhere on your body to tighten, it’s time to redirect and manage those nerves or thoughts.  “Any thought that you have that is making you tight, is making you worse… We want to avoid tightness at all costs.  The body does not perform well in running when we get tight.  Stay as loose as possible.”  If your nerves are from feeling like you aren’t good enough as a human or that people will love you less if you don’t hit your goals, it’s time to evaluate those thoughts to figure out why.  Our worth doesn’t change depending on what the clock says or how we perform, and it’s so important to realize this to avoid nerves caused by ideas like this!

My little errand buddy.

We made it to our favorite salad bar.  We hadn’t remembered the last vegetable we had, so we decided to grab some here at Harmon’s before the carb load begins, and I cut out fiber for 1-2 days before the marathon.  I had a salmon, avocado, and veggie bowl with some rolls, and it hit the spot.

Now for just a few tangents:

*I’m up in Salt Lake City a lot this week for a brand partnership.  I had a fitting yesterday, got back in my clothes, and then left for Brooke’s soccer game.  On the way to Brooke’s game, I stopped at a restroom and realized that MY PANTS WERE INSIDE OUT.  Did the brand notice when I was talking to them as I left?!  I sure hope not, but it is kind of hard to miss.  The taper messes with me.

*It feels so good to be at soccer games again!

*My sister’s current bathroom!  She has been hard at work with this one.  I cannot wait to see the finished product.

*The Vaporfly 3s are arriving at my house TODAY… I changed my mind and decided to give them a try before the marathon.  I will try them for my workout on Thursday, and if I love them, I will bring them to Boston.  Please do not follow my example for changing race shoes last second; this isn’t my first time doing this… oops.

*I may or may not have matched my nails to them because I am so excited.

*Boston runners—> Meghann shares tips for race day nutrition and times to eat your breakfastS leading up to each wave.  This is my 4th Boston, and I found it so helpful.  I’ll also be using this salt tip of hers.

————————————————————————————–

Give me a tangent or two!

Fiber the day before a race? 

-Am I alone in cutting this out, or do other people do this too?

Parents reading—> Are your kids playing any spring sports this year?

Paint your nails or no thanks?  Long or short nails?