All We Need is Just a Little Patience

I've succumbed to quoting Guns & Roses. Judge if you must, but, right now, it works.  "Said woman, take it slow, it will work itself out fine..."

Yesterday, I ran my longest training run for this marathon training cycle. I told myself going into it that I HAD to try and be patient and run it slow. Training programs, online guides, coaches, books on running, and even blog-o-sphere amateurs (literally EVERYONE) recommends that you run your long runs S.L.O.W. REALLY, Really, slow...like an entire minute (or more!) slower than race pace. Run slow, take it easy, and get your body ready for the time it takes to complete the race. The theory is you are building your endurance for race day. Slower=Easier, right?? Um, yeah, not for some of us. Namely, me.

Patience and I are not friends. Pretty much. Now, Blue Cheese and I, on the other hand...but I'm getting distracted, and, now I'm hungry, too. Anyway, my point (I had a point...maybe?), was that it is hard to not want to run these long runs faster than 1 minute slower than pace. Why not? I feel fine 25 or 30 seconds slower than pace, and then I'm all done SO much sooner. Which means more time for enjoying other things, like, well, Blue Cheese. Duh.

But, alas, not being patient has hurt me before in races, so...I promised (cross my heart, and hope to die) myself that yesterday I would run slower. I hoped I wouldn't actually die---for certain, the largest risk being uncontrolled boredom. Believe it or not, I lived to tell the story about running a slow-paced long run. Took FOREVER. 3 hours, 18 minutes (23.16 miles) to be exact. And, I ran 35-40 seconds slower than race pace. Ok fine, it wasn't a full minute, but as close as I could manage. I was kind-of, sort-of, a little bit PATIENT. Let's just say that I was “patient-ish.”

I have no trouble being patient when I'm not the one running. The last few weekends, I've been a spectator at several races. I LOVE being at races, even when I'm not running. The Shamrock Run last weekend was filled with runners of all abilities and ages. It's fun to see the top finishers sleek their way across the line, the mid-packers who run their hearts out for a PR, and even those people who almost don running shoes and spandex shuffling, huffing and making their way down Naito Parkway. This year, for us, the Shamrock Run was all about Jude (our 9 year-old) racing for the first time in a 5K.

I won't lie and say that the 12-week Couch-to-5K training program was easy, fun, and always filled with laughter for Jude. Just like I won't lie and say that natural childbirth doesn't hurt. I'm not the woman who says, "just a tickle, some pressure, then the baby crowned." HA! Well, back to the running stuff.

Many of the training runs were fun, but, there were times when he REALLY didn't want go. He'd rather have done homework, cleaned his room, or given the dog a bath than gone running. Seriously. As we reminded Jude of his commitment to the race, I often thought about the life lesson he would be learning by slowly training for something, and then accomplishing something he didn't think he could possible finish. Wowness, right? Well, at times, it didn't feel like it. It feel a bit like forced coercion.

As it turned it out, however, Jude's Race Day was awesome. He ran the whole way, and he ran faster than he had on any of his training runs. Race day really can bring out the competitor in every racer. For now, Jude is enjoying his "off-season." I overheard him saying he*might* consider another 5K race this summer with Grandma M. My mother, a 61 year-old ex-smoker, jogging along with my son. Now that, I would love to watch.

Scott, Easter Bunny and Maya

Today, we got to watch Scott finish up at the Hop Hop Half Marathon. What a beautiful morning for a race! I was so excited to see how he would do today as the race conditions were perfect, and he had been training hard for this race. He nabbed a HUGE (I mean almost three minutes!!) PR. The course also allowed for gorgeous views of the Colombia River, and Scott got to mingle with the Easter Bunny while sipping a yummy Mimosa. How many people can say that?? Not many.

The last few weeks have left me feeling really proud of the accomplishments of my family. Both Jude and Scott have raced their best and Race Day brought their best running abilities to the fore front. They've both really inspired me to race well next month. The new and improved “patient-ish” me is ready to put myself to the test.  "...Said, sugar, take the time 'cause the lights are shining bright."

What is hard or challenging for YOU in running/racing? Are you able to hold back on training runs, but still dig deep when the time comes?

Do you have your sights set on finishing a new distance? Or improving in a certain area (like speed or running longer endurance training runs)?