It's a Race You're Supposed to Push Yourself

At start of the race. It was nippy but not too cold.

The kind hearted volunteer sitting in the chair saw how I was struggling and said you're at 11.5.  Don't push yourself.  I called back. " It's a race you're supposed to push yourself."  She said yes, it's a race but well don't kill yourself.

I wish I could say I was pushing myself at the Crater Lake Rim Run 13 mile race. I started too fast, felt great on the downhills and faltered at 9.5 to the end on the hills. I ran/walked the last 3 miles up the hill and had zero mental toughness. Thoughts such as I never want to run this race again and I never want to run again crossed my mind. Each time I was passed, which was a lot the last 3 miles, I deflated a little more and wish I would have just dug deep and really pushed it.

Before the tough didn't get going, I was enjoying myself.  This race is the prettiest I've ever run and the weather was perfect. The race is limited to 500 people for the 4 races, 6.7 run, 6.7 race walk, 13 mile and marathon distances.  Having run the race last year I recognized a couple people and noticed there are a ton of marathon manics that run the race. It seemed like every other person had the yellow marathon manic tank top on.  Then there were a handful that had their Boston gear on (me included).

Ribbon for 2nd in my age group

Despite my disappointment of not digging deep and falling apart, I still ran under 2 hours (1:58:09) and got 2nd in my age group.  John got first in his age group but they made a mistake and put him as second in the younger age group.  He rocked it and ran faster than last year.

Happy Running!