A week ago I ran a 20-mile race. After not running much all summer, I was happy to see that I still have that as a base, apparently. I made it the whole way, albeit in my slowest time ever for a 20-miler, 3:19:43 (9:59).
A friend of mine is going through typical 1st-marathonistis as she gets ready for the MCM, bemoaning that she isn't ready, can't do it, etc. She determined to do this 20-mile race as a test of her conditioning, because she had never run past 16 miles before.
As a surprise to her, I showed up at the race too. We ran together. I ran at her pace the first ten miles, 10:30s. She can run faster than that but she was afraid of crashing and burning.
Then when she was confident she could finish the race, she dialed down the times. Soon miles were flashing under our feet at 9:15s. We passed by MP 19 stride in stride. But I don't care that we did the first ten miles at a relative snail's pace, and that I had saved some gas in my tank the first half of race. It had no effect in that last mile. Nineteen miles at my age is nineteen miles.
Youth was served. (She's 20 years younger.) She found a new gear, one which I didn't have anymore at this late stage of the race. I wished her well and told her to pick off all those runners ahead of us as she moved out. She was two blocks ahead of me as we went into the final turn leading to a concluding lap around a school track. I fell behind a minute or two more when I stopped at my car in the parking lot before I finished and rummaged around in it for my camera.
It was a good training run. I was pleased that I was able to run the whole way without having to walk. I worry that I couldn't respond in that last mile but that's the way it is. My friend is ready though!
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12 comments:
I'm really impressed that you can just shake a 20 miler out of your pocket like that! Well done - and even better done for going out there and supporting a friend - I bet she really appreciated it!
Boy is she!
You did a good thing. I bet she's on top of the world now.
I like how ya just toss out a twenty miler like it's spare change hanging around. Very nice.
So if ya picked up the camera..umm...where be the photos?
You're in good shape. Just getting out and knocking off 20miles like its nobody's business
If I coudl maintain 9:59 for TEN miles, I would be on cloud nine.
Good job on your 20 mile race! The last One More Mile slogan contest winner was, "The older I get, the faster I was." Such is life. The important thing is that you're still running! And you're way faster than I ever hope to be, so it's all relative.
It was nice of you to be her rabbit. I'm sure her confidence is way up now. :-)
Yeah, that's it Dori, I was her rabbit! And rabbits aren't supposed to beat the featured runners. I like that. And Rainmaker, you're funny. The pictures will be back to me in 2 weeks when the film gets developed. Digital camera, never fooled with one. But I do ask for the images to be put on a disk now.
Nice to be able to pull a 20-miler out of a hat like that!
And now I hope your friend is a little less nervous about MCM. I like that term "1st-marathonistis," though :-)
What a great supporter, friend, source of amazing encouragement you are!
Sounds like a negative split to me! Good job!
Thats impressive. To do a 20 miler cold says a lot about your base.
Very good job. Our enemies had the possibility to understand who rules. They had 3h19' to learn the lesson!!! No more mercy now.
two weeks for developing?!?! this is the generation of instant gratification. that's a lifetime. safeway will do it overnight and put them on disc for you. OR you could just buy a nice little digital camera that will pay for itself in no time. :)
you're such a nice guy to help out a fellow runner. good luck to her!
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