Road Rules!

Happy Monday!

 1:55:12

That is my unofficial Runmeter app time...just under two hours...not bad.

Yes...running the half was the best decision...I will have to get 15 minutes faster with this time to have any shot at running a full in 4 hours!

As you might have guessed, I did quite a bit of thinking as I was running...a few road rules came to mind.

Road Rule #1 - Stay in your lane! 

The first few miles, I spent most of it dodging people trying to hit my target pace.  There were 13,000 people in the narrow streets...

 5,000 in front of me and it felt like I said "pardon me" at least 2,000 times (but I was passing them!).

I also burned up a lot of precious energy doing it! 

Road Rule #2 - Don't worry about other people

At about mile #8, the crowd was considerably thinner and passing was minimal. Tthere was a divide in the road and as Yogi Berra says, "When you come to a fork in the road...take it!"

This fork divided the marathoners from the half-marathoners.  I had a few moments of remorse that had I should have stuck to the longer race...then the lactic acid in my thighs reminded me that I still had 5 miles to go!

 Don't look at others around you...run!

Road Rule #3 - Stay focused when conditions change

 At about mile 10, I felt good and knew I was running a fairly good pace...well under 9 minutes a mile.  The 2 hour barrier was achievable. 

Then the wind picked up something fierce.  The rain began to fall.  My clothes got heavier and the wind felt like someone was physically holding me back...

The lady in my ear didn't know...didn't care..."run faster to achieve target pace" was all she could offer...  

When things change, bear down and keep your eye on your objectives!

At the 12th mile I saw a woman I had seen off and on for several miles.  I was sure I had passed her once or twice, but she likely passed me during one of 5 strategically scheduled 1-minute walk periods.

Her pace was consistent and steady...

As she pulled past me in the last 100 meters to cross 3 seconds before me I felt compelled to go over and congratulate her...

 "Great race", I said. 

She said 5 words (with limited signs of breathlessness!) that summed it all up...

"Thank you...I ALWAYS RUN MY RACE"...

 When I think about it...that is the only Road Rule you really need! 

 Until tomorrow, I wish you Money, Power, Success!