15 minute shakeout with the team in the early hours. Then later a 20 minute warm up with the milers. Light drills. Race. 20ish minute cool down.
So. This race was better and worse than last week.
Better: I felt like I pushed harder, I was closer around the girls in my race, and I probably did a little better time-wise, though the world will never truly know due to last week's timing fiasco. I didn't lose 4 (or any, for that matter) spikes during this race. Also my throat didn't taste like broccoli and wood when I finished this week, so that was a major plus.
Worse: My alley went out a bit fast and I ended up near the front for the first little bit of the race, which sort of freaked me out. Afterward, I did that thing where I cough so hard my internal organs try to escape and I have to lean over the trash can for a long while, because even though I know I'm not actually going to puke, people give me dirty looks if I stand around dry heaving next to them or their personal belongings. Also, knowing my time sorta sucks because I can't even pretend I'm not SUPER far behind where I once was. I mean, it's good to know where I'm at and to have something to work off of, but I also sort of hate it.
All in all, this race was another learning experience. I want to keep running the mile over and over and just keep trying to bring my time down. I know I can do it eventually, it's just going to take a lot of patience and a LOT of hard work. It is so good to be back though. It's funny, because back in high school, I couldn't WAIT to be able to stay in a hotel or go to a restaurant without having to worry about a race the next day. But then I finally got to that point and all I wanted was to be back running. I think that as much as that break set me back, I really needed it to make me realize how much I actually do like running. Never before have I finished a race and wanted to immediately get back on the track and try again (okay, not immediately, because it's hard to run and half-puke simultaneously, but you get it). So.. yeah. Those are my thoughts. Kudos to you if you read all the way through.
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