8 Times Insanity

Can you believe this makes the eighth time running this horrible thing? Time sure flies. There are things I like doing, that I haven't done eight times before! Why? Here comes this year's story.

There is something to be said about consistency. There is also something to be said about insanity. How does the definition of insanity go, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? The line between consistency and insanity have just about merged for me.

Every year, cool temps, the week prior to this race, sudden warm up. Consistency. Every year, I come into this race expecting a set time. Consistency. Every year I find myself lined up for this race. Consistency. The insanity part comes from, just once I still hold this glimmer of hope that just once I should have a good run on this course. Those thoughts disappeared a few days prior when I came down with a head could and felt generally miserable. The morning of, woke up with what felt like a cold sweat. Can't say I've ever taken my temperature prior to a race start before, consistency cycle is now broken, this is new.

Eeeeeeeeeeeight, goes the gun. Because I'm insane and expect different results, my race strategy is give it my best shot and see what happens. That worked up until about mile sixteen. Then the consistency of the warmer weather always getting to me took it's toll. Maybe some of it had to do with the head cold, but overall think running a marathon a few weeks ago caught up with me too. My body suddenly felt very tired and this was the sign to shut it down and not bother pushing any harder. Much of this decision is based on knowing I've got another race next week and that one is a bit more important than this one.

The remaining miles, were a bunch of walking and texting CT updates. One positive, it wasn't until mile twenty one that the group with my PR on this course finally passed me. The part I did run, I did well to build up a lead like that.

Crossing the line, still turned out to be my second best time on this course. If that doesn't give some idea how consistently, ha one last time, this course beats me up, I don't know what does. At the time, I wasn't very happy mainly knowing when I had to shut it down, but now it doesn't seem that bad. Considering still physically tired from the last marathon, being sick, and the warm weather, I'll take it especially if I didn't do any damage to myself for next weekend. Let the insanity continue!