So my goal time of 3:40 (which Steve agreed to because my training buddies are aiming for this) is actually faster than he planned for me and slower than I planned for me. I planned on 3:30 (20 min less than my original plan) and he planned on under 4:00. Wow... a 30 minute difference of opinion. So we talked and bantered and finally he came up with 3:45, which got shortened to 3:40 so I could hang with my buddies. Of course, to this, Steve added that I would be lucky to do this AND I was NOT to even think of trying to speed up until mile 20. An 8:20 pace for 20 miles. ok....
So, I thought about this for a day or two. Did Steve tell me this to get under my skin and make me want to prove him wrong?? Was this supposed to make me frustrated so I would try harder? Hmmmmm. Or, was he trying desparately to coach me? Is this my chance to show him that I really can listen? That I am indeed coachable?? I deliberated for a long time.
And I came up with this. Steve knows my personality. He knows that this is likely to piss me off so I run as hard as I can. He has seen this side of me. He has also told me repeatedly lately that I do not listen. I know that he likes athletes that take responsibility for themselves but I also know that running stupid frustrates him. He IS the coach. Perhaps I should prove to him that I can listen. It doesn't mean that I have to do it all the time but shouldn't I show that I can also be a good "student?" Shouldn't I make it more desirable to put time and effort into his coaching me?
Steve tells me that I will likely never run a 3 hour marathon. Maybe not, but this pisses me off. It pisses me off enough to cloud my judgment at times. I am not young and I am an inexperienced runner. I do not have time to waste in pissing matches with my coach. My chances of coming as close as possible to this goal in my lifetime (not next week!!!!!) lie in my ability to run smart. I already know that I can suffer...this is a non issue. It is focus and concentration that is my weakness. And I believe I need to learn this. I believe that Steve (and my Team Rogue buddies) can help me learn this. This is my only chance to run my best... show my coach that I can be more... and show myself that I can earn a goal by something other than a hard head and an ability to ignore pain.
So, my goal is out there for all to see. It is in print for me to see. Am I a coachable athlete? Is it so hard to stay at a prescribed pace for 20 miles? Is it possible for me to turn OFF the greyhound and turn on the brain? I look at this as having to swallow my pride. Why is this? What difference does 10 or 15 minutes really make? And yet, my running buddies know. I guess that is why I don't feel quite so stupid writing this down. My goal is to show my coach that I trust his judgment. My goal is to qualify for Boston (4:05) and to stay at my prescribed pace for 20 miles... more or less after this. Aren't we supposed to learn to have a negative split here? Isn't my goal to be a team player if I am a member of our cool team? Isn't my goal to be a good runner if I am spending time and dollars each month to learn how to do this? My goal is to stick to my goal.
- 3:40 pace group to the 20 mile marker. (CHECK)
- Qualify for Boston. (CHECK)
- Listen to the coach. (CHECK)
- FOCUS
This may be the hardest one that I have done yet...
3 comments:
Go Julia,go!! Once you discover the fun and thrill of negative splits you'll leave the sprinter at home. That has been my lesson - to trust that you can run faster the second 1/2 and to hold back until you get there. If it doesn't work it wasn't gonna work if you hauled butt right from the start anyway. Have a smart and fun race!!
you're going to do great julia! i can't wait to hear all about it :)
Julia - You are so going to rock Cali! Based on how you ran with me, I think you are very capable of running a 3:40 and feeling great to boot. Work on that mental image of how and when you want to cross that finish line. Be smart, be consistent, and bring out your inner superwoman!
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