...feel the need to run faster than other runners, even on an easy jog? Yesterday I was on an easy run, not wanting to do too much because I want to do 8-10 miles at a fast pace tomorrow, but I turned a corner and the was another runner about 50 feet ahead of me. I tried to tell myself to just take it easy; she was a running a bit faster than I was, no big deal. Then she looked back to judge my speed, and I couldn't take it. I increased my speed, subconsciously at first, unaware of what I was doing. I looked down at my Garmin, saw the increase in pace, and decided "what the hell." I quit fighting it and pressed forward. I didn't bother looking at my pace again; I figured I was going about 30 seconds per mile faster than my normal easy pace. She looked over her shoulder again and I had closed the distance by about half. If I'm not mistaken, she sped up at this point as well. I caught up and passed her, and as I did, I looked down at my watch. It said I was running at a 7:30 pace. Again, this is not what I had intended. I was feeling good and fresh but I had already reached my quota for that fast of running for the week, and was planning for more on Saturday, and I really didn't want to overdo it. At the same time, just because I was past her didn't mean I could slow down.
As I neared my next turn, I hoped that she would take a different route. I turned the corner, and I swear I heard her footsteps follow me. Darn. For whatever reason, I don't like to look back over my shoulder, so I waited for another turn to look for confirmation. Just because I made it a competition in my own head didn't mean I wanted anyone else to know. I came up on a road where I had to stop for a moment for traffic. It was the perfect opportunity to look back. I do, as nonchalantly as I could muster, and there was nobody there. From there, I resumed my original intended pace and continued on. 2 miles later, I met another runner, and you know how it goes from there.
No comments:
Post a Comment