Boys and girls, it's DUMPING outside here in Sacramento. It's supposed to continue to dump, with the worst of the rain and 20-mile-per-hour winds tomorrow between 7:30 and 9 a.m.
Yep, that's right in the middle of the race. And no....it's not going to be a tailwind.
I just went to a meeting with the pace team leaders....and as much as I hate to type it, because I know it makes me look like a quitter.....I have to revise my goal.
Darren said it first. He sent me an email yesterday saying he'd seen the forecast and unfortunately wants me to scale back my goal.
And when I chatted with the very frank and nice 3:45 pace group leader just now, he said the same thing....not just to me, but to everybody. The winds we are looking at tomorrow, he said, will strip us of 38 seconds per mile at minimum. He said he's still going to hit 3:45....but he asked people to help him lead, something he said he doesn't have to do in good years. Those who do run 3:45 in tomorrow's likely weather, he said, are capable of a 3:30.
My training has been good. On a nice day, I'm ready to run a 3:45 and might even be able to do a few minutes faster. But I am not capable of a 3:30, or a 3:30 effort.
I know some of you badasses out there would put all your chips on the table and go for it. But I don't want to end up walking at the end because I went out at the wrong pace for the day. And I don't want to wreck my chances for a better day a couple of months down the road.
Here's what I'm telling myself: Putting on my big-girl panties does not mean deliberately choosing to bonk on the off-chance that everyone around me is wrong about what kind of day it's going to be tomorrow, or wrong about what I am capable of. Putting on my big-girl panties means remembering that I'm lucky to be here at all, remembering what those of you who trained for the New York Marathon this year just dealt with.
So the goal tomorrow is to beat 4 hours. I'm going to run with the 3:55 pace group. If conditions are better than race officials are advising, I will speed up. If I can beat my Houston Marathon personal record from January (3:53:28), it will have been a very good day.
No whining. It's a little over 12 hours until the gun.
That's a bummer about the weather. You sound matter-of-fact and realistic. I wondered what Darren would recommend, Esp.when I read Joanne. Z's post about DNSing this race. I know she works with him and Colleen. I'm sighing as I type this. As you know, I still hoping you have a good day. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteSuper smart lady.
ReplyDeletego go go! you can do it! I can't wait to hear how you do!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't make you sound like a quitter, it makes you sound smart. We run the race the conditions give us, not our ideal race. This is going to be an EPIC race, regardless of time goals, just due to the conditions. I for one think you're a rock star just for setting out, and I hope that IF it's as bad as it looks like it will be you're able to laugh at how ridiculous it is rather than sigh over what you wanted it to be. I'll be thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteTry not to stress. I know it's so hard not to, you've worked so hard to get here and it's just not fair!! But assess the situation on race day and if it feels good then go for it and if not, then pull back so you can rebound quickly and hit up another marathon soon. When dealing with strong winds, just remember to tuck in behind some tall people, this is actually allowed in running :) and really saves energy!
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome, girl!! xo
Sorry about the weather but glad to hear you are taking it into account! I will be cheering you on tomorrow from COS!
ReplyDeleteDuring my first (and only marathon), there were 20 mph headwinds. It honestly didn't bother me even if it did slow me down. What bothered me were the 26.2 miles.
ReplyDeleteOh my, that just seems so unfair! I'm glad you are being so honest with yourself and I hope you have as good as a race as you possibly can! I'll be cheering for you over here.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Hopefully things will be better than expected. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon and they were predicting rain and winds up until 24 hours before the race...but it ended up being dry and just a little windy. So maybe you'll have the same good fortune!
ReplyDeleteBummer but smart decision! You can't win against mother nature! I think you are brave just because you are sticking to it in spite of the bad weather conditions. I think I would opt out because I am a wimp when it comes to rain. Good luck and if the weather gets too bad just relax and finish your race!
ReplyDeleteOh Terzah, I have been crossing my fingers that the weather would change in time for your race! But don't give up and don't let your mind put a damper on what isn't here yet. Your body is well prepared - you never know what you may pop off with (a good time) despite the seemingly poor conditions. Maybe not your original goal pace but what if you do??? Or what if you still finish near your goal? And you are not just "lucky" to be there - you have worked hard, overcoming a serious handicap and have earned a spot to race. We'll be wishing for a break in the weather and looking forward to hearing about your day. Try to enjoy the ride come what may......
ReplyDeleteI think you're being smart. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTerzah,
ReplyDeleteI'm praying that the weather is clear for the race, weather forecasters are often wrong. It's not easy adjusting a goal you've worked so hard for but sometimes when the pressure is off is when the magic happens. No matter what happens have a great race, you've worked hard and deserve it. I'll be thinking of you and waiting to hear all about it.
RUN TERZAH RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill C.
Man, what a bummer!! That sounds like pretty miserable running conditions. Sounds like scaling back your goals is the right thing to do thought...:( Hope just maybe the conditions turn out better than expected. Good luck today!
ReplyDeleteThis DOES NOT make you look like a quitter! Mother Nature can be a b%tch sometimes. You have to make the most out of it. Enjoy yourself and have fun!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh man, that doesn't sound like a fun run. Hope it goes/went well!
ReplyDeleteThis is what I dislike about racing- all that hard work, and race day is so unpredictable! I hope you are still able to beat your Houston pr, but wow, those are intense conditions!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about you all day. I know all too well the difficult decision to go for it on one level and yet pull back on another. This year's Boston, with it's 90 degree temps was my challenge. I hemmed-and-hawed over whether to defer or not, and decided to go for it with MUCH lower expectations. I was initially aiming for a sub 3:40, but with the heat and some training difficulties due to a concussion, I had to totally rethink everything. It wasn't easy to accept. A lot of my friends pulled out of CIM and have scheduled other races. Good job going for it - Maybe you can fit another one in before the big 40 ;)
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