Amy Lu's View

I ran my first race of 2019 yesterday when I did the TC 10 Mile! It was also my first race since the 2018 Twin Cities Marathon last October.

Wow, a whole year without races (no, NOT a whole year without running). This wasn’t an intentional break from participating in organzied races (although I am on an intentional marathon hiatus). Weather–mixed in with some life choices–lead to me missing two races earlier this year (“The Race Not Taken“), and JUST this weekend, the 5K and 10K we signed up for on Saturday were cancelled because of rainy weather and potential lightning. (Although we still did get all our race series bling–medals, awesome coffee travel mug–which I’m not even embarassed to rock because we totally intended to run).

And yes, I realize that the most dire consequence of global warming is not how it is affecting my race plans, but it’s what I feel most immediately.

Actually, given how crappy the weather was on Saturday for the 5K and 10K, I was very thankful they were cancelled. We signed up to run them as part of the “Loony Challenge,” to run the 5K and 10K on Saturday and the 10 Mile on Sunday. I wanted to do this, I really did (last year we did the “Ultra Loony”–same Saturday races with the Marathon on Sunday), despite having to get up before dawn two days in a row, and not just because signing up for the Loony Challenge guaranteed us a spot in the extremely popular 10 Mile. But since the weather WAS so crappy, I just couldn’t imagine standing around freezing my ass off in the wind and the rain, and I was soo happy not to make that call  to bail myself.

But the weather was perfect on Sunday and I FINALLY RAN A RACE. I almost forgot how fun and energizing and stressful and exciting a race can be. Yes, they are a complete pain in the ass (I’m willingly doing something that requires getting up at 5:00 in the morning in October when it’s not even light?), but the things I love most in life (acting, being in a band, etc.) seem to be.

And yes, I DID feel a little lame because I was “only” running the 10 Mile, and not the marathon, but still proud and excited to be able to do the 10 Mile and be a part of Marathon weekend and the running community, even if mostly via Facebook. I even got to celebrate in person with some of my amazing First TC 10 Marathon class of 2017.

The actual experience of running the TC 10 was wonderful–beautiful weather and route with gorgeous trees popping with fall color, and supportive and entertaining spectators. And I felt good–yes, I was defintely working, but no real pain or issues (I never wanted to puke)–so it was a win.

AND I think I ran my fastest individual mile EVER–Mile #1 I ran in 8:12. Which probably is more a sign of bad planning than athletic prowess, but still. In a wonderful metaphor for life, (how I love my running metaphors for life) the middle of the race, miles 5-7, were my hardest and slowest. I even learned some running strategy that may be applicable in future shorter races–it’s worth carrying water, because the water stops actually do add enough time to matter (unlike in a marathon where walking through the water stops is no big whoo and even gives you a beneficial break).

But yes, Amy being Amy (and I’m just trying to accept my neuroses as part of my charm), I AM a little confused and disappointed by my performance. I completed the 10 Mile with an 8:56/per mile average pace, exactly what I did 3 years ago (although in 2016 I had an overal time of 1:29:17 and this year I finished in 1:29:15 so I was technically faster!)

In many, many ways, an 8:56/per mile pace is a very good thing, especially since I’ve felt that my training this year has been rather lackluster (and there was that face plant thing I did). Honestly, I was worried I might be lucky to have a 9:30/per milep pace. BUT…there was ALL THAT TRAINING! I certainly was running  and “training” way back in 2016, but not with anywhere near the same effort and intentionality, which makes me ask…was all the training of 2019 worth it? At least when it comes to actual race performance (yes, my obsesseive compulsive self DOES really enjoy the training for its own sake).

And since I don’t know where else to admit this…I do feel “guilty” that when I registered for the 10 Mile, I said I anticipated a 8:30/mile pace. Yes, this was definitely a stretch goal, but not entirely made up. It was simply based on my Best Ever (“PR”–Personal Record) pace attained at the Rochester Half Marathon, (an easier, although longer, course).  I only feel bad because this declaration got me into the first corral of Ten Milers, which meant I didn’t have to stand around waiting to start the 10 Mile in one of the other corrals.

This was my third TC 10 Mile. Was it the Charm? What am I going to do next year? Will I do the 10 Mile again, or the Marathon, or just sit at home and watch the proceedings via Facebook?