"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
-Albert Einstein-
You would think that I would draw on my 10 years of race experience, or my frustrating last season performances, but I make the same mistake....I wussed out the first 200m in the race, losing the position I needed to run fast. The races I can get into now allow me to go fast, but only when I'm in the front. You may hear runners talking about being in a train and getting pulled to a fast time. The races I'm in are the ones only the top 2-4 go fast....not the whole field. So when there's a field of 10-12 people, why do I find myself going right to the back of the pack in the first 200m and expect to run fast.....INSANITY.
Last night's race was set up to run well. Nothing blazing fast, but a solid season opener. One that you could fist pump or do your secret high 5 with a teammate after. There were 3 of us from my group in the race. One of my teammates was the pacer and the other one told me his plan; "I'm going to the front". Perfect, I'll just sit in number 3 position, behind those two. It'll be like a workout. Just zone out and sit on them. But when the gun went off, I found myself in the back of the pack. I got out well around the turn, but when it came time to "cut-in" and merging to lane 1, I just let the field go by (Insanity move). So I'm now running in the back pack through 400m. The field is still in contact with one another (no gaps, just a tight pack). At 500m the group starts to split a bit so I make sure I stay connected and get around a couple runners so I can still run fast (Smart move). The rabbit pulls off at 600m and my teammate puts in a slight surge to ensure a fast pace.....wait why isn't the field responding. We go around the turn and I'm in 4th. Teammate,...gap.... one guy in front of me and the other on my shoulder slightly in front of me (so I'm boxed in...AGAIN). 100m to go my teammate puts another solid surge in...No response again with the group. The two in front of me string out so I have a wall in front of me with my teammate slipping away. I finish up 4th with a very disappointing time.
I finished tired but not spent. Like I just did a workout. I felt like I could have responded and went with my teammate instead of letting him slip away. There's always negatives and positives to a race. So there's my positive. I have the strength to finish and hold on. My problem is the first 200m. I need to nut up and get out harder. Take MY positioning and run MY time. In reality it's a difference of running another 40m harder before settling in to a pace. It sounds easy....and it is. I jut need to do it.
I'd like to say I've learned my lesson, but I made this mistake consistently last year. I ran.... hesitant. I was unsure. There isn't much you can control in this race, but you can control your positioning in the first 200m. After that a lot can happen, but that first 200 you can put yourself anywhere you want to be. I just need to sac up and do it.
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