Yesterday was spent trying to come up with an explanation for why I blew up so quickly in the Pelham Half. I think my explanation — that I paid a heavy price for going out too fast — is the correct one.
Doubts about my ability to race another HM were in my mind today. I headed to the trail and after feeling horrible early and wondering whether I’d get to 2, things quickly fell into place and I again felt fine and smooth and fast. I was a bit tired, sure, but it did not affect me. So I know I can do an HM, even though today was just a solid 8.
Over eight years ago, I wrote about the Micawber factor, i.e., a little too fast means disaster while a little too slow can do wonders. Perhaps it is better referred to as being in the Goldilocks zone, which is actually a term used in Astronomy, i.e., not too fast and not too slow but just right. As it was, yesterday found my too close to the Sun and I burned up.
The saga continues.
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November 30, 2017 at 12:05 am
Ewen
It’s odd how you’re finding it difficult to judge the correct pace early in a race. I would have thought that speedwork/intervals might see you going out even faster, feeling very comfortable with a too fast pace?
November 30, 2017 at 11:44 am
JoeGarland
Speedwork would, I think, help with recovering from going out too fast. But for an HM, I just let the excitement of it get the better of me.