How was 2018 (Part II)

So, with one successful in the bag, I was excited to test myself in the Frank Duffy 10mi race in August to see if the longer distances were improving too. Here's how it went:

August - Frank Duffy 10mi
As with the 10k race, the organisers moved the venue from Phoenix Park to Swords. I didn't have a clue about the route or the profile of the race. Mind you, I couldn't remember the last time I had run a 10mi race so couldn't figure out what pace to run at and this was critical.I just figured out it had to be slower than a 10k but... how much? No clue. So I ran and picked up the pace in the final 2k to come in at 1:17. I was happy with that but a friend I met at the race said "you can easily run the half in 1:40". I had never done that or got even close to it. Still as you can see, I was still improving.

September - Dublin Half Marathon
Crazy targets, unrealistic expectations, unachievable goals... these were some of the thoughts that were going through my head in my month leading up to the half but something had changed in my mindset. Yes, there was doubt. My original target was to get sub 1:45. It was doable by all means. I was used to very gradual improvements over time but all of the sudden there was this new buzz inside my brain wondering what if... what if you're capable of more than you imagine? What if you're better prepared than you think? What if you're selling yourself short for fear of failing? At the time I was reading a book called In the zone by Clyde Brolin and one of the things that struck me was that great athletes fix their mind on an objective by repeatedly stating it out loud. Think Mohamed Ali claiming "I am the greatest" even before winning his first world title, that kind of thing. So I started training with the mantra of 1:40 in every run. By the time the race came, I was convinced I was capable of doing it and ran the race that way. The result? 1:39:17 (chip time, the photo shows gun time, honestly!).

Comments

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26.2 Ways to Run

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