Don't Call It a Comeback

First off, I want to wish a few friends good luck this weekend. I actually have a bunch of friends and acquaintances racing in various spots, but I’ll just mention three. Andy Sayers will be running the Des Moines marathon in his new home state of Iowa Sunday morning, and after a monster past few months of training, should be primed for a big PR performance. In Columbus, OH, Jason Pyles will be mixing it up at the Columbus Half Marathon, and has also had a great build leading up to the race. Also in Columbus, Allison Angell will be making her marathon debut, and while her goals will be vastly different than Andy’s or Jason’s, here’s hoping for great weather, a great day, and fast times for them all! I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out for everyone.

As for me, I’ll be toeing the line at the Bank of Fincastle 10k in the morning, and for whatever reason I'm a little nervous, even though I have no reason to be because I'm not really going to be racing. I'm just using it as a tempo workout, and if it was any other race, I wouldn't even be out there. However, since it's the only one in my hometown each year and I’ve only missed it a handful of times since 1994, I want to support it as well as keep my participation streak alive. So, when the shotgun fires (yes, the race is started with a double-barrel shotgun), I’ll head up the hill with close to a thousand others, mostly kids, and tackle what has to be one of the toughest courses around.

I’ve won this race seven times, but trying to win is not even on my radar tomorrow. Instead, the goal is twofold, cross the line healthy first and foremost and break 40 min secondary. I know that's ridiculously slow for me, but this course is an absolute beast (see elevation profile here)! When I was in PR-type shape, I ran 33:22 at this race, which shows you just how tough it is considering my PR is almost 1:45 faster. I figure it’s good for 60-90 seconds if you race at 6 min pace or faster and more than that if your 10k pace is a little slower, which mine will be tomorrow. Since it starts and finishes in the same spot, all the climbs you go up you come back down, and because I figure my foot is probably still most vulnerable on downhills, I don't want to risk anything (hence why I will also be wearing trainers not flats). Even if I wind up feeling good and think I can push faster than planned, I’ll hold back to make sure I accomplish that primary goal of coming through it healthy. I’m finally starting to gain some fitness and feel decent in training, and I definitely want to keep that going!

Anyway, overall I guess I'm just happy to be able to get out there at this point. Thanks to two stress fractures, I haven’t raced since October 31st of last year, and a little over two months ago I was still on crutches and in a boot and this didn't seem like even a remote possibility, so it's just another of the many ways in which I am blessed. Don't call it a comeback...