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| After the 10K Road Race- Niagara Falls International Marathon |
Back in July, I signed myself up for the Niagara Falls International Marathon's Half Marathon event. It's been 10 years since I ran the first one, the experience being less than ideal. I ran the race with a broken second toe that I received from jumping off my kitchen counter the night before (don't ask). I figured there was three months of good training before this event, so I had time to get ready to rock this Half. Of course a week later I injured my knee and that put a damper on training. Being the person I am I still stayed signed up for the event until the very last minute. The money was paid I wasn't going to not run. Luckily for me I have a good coach that gently reminded me my goal was not to be a marathoner this year but instead to medal at World Master's Swimming Championships, and my knees were needed for the events I swim. He said perhaps, I could drop down to the 10K or 5K and use it as a training day, or just drop it. Reluctantly, I took his advice.
The Friday before the event I went to pick up my race kit and switch races only to find the 10K to be SOLD OUT!!! As I can be chatty, I made a few friends in line and found a great lady named Sheri who was entered in the 10K but wanted to run the Half! What luck! We were able to swap races and the 10K was a go. It has also been 10 years since I have raced a 10K. My Coach, Lee, provided me with some more excellent advice...which I again was reluctant to take. Sometimes I am not the most receptive student. Going into a race for me is like putting a rabbit in front of a greyhound. It is difficult for me not to go in and give it all I have from start to finish, maybe I could catch the rabbit, maybe I could win. Funny thing is, I think this even if I haven't been training. However Lee gave me a strategy on how to run the race and hopefully not come out with a baseball sized knee. Go easy the first 2K to 3K and see how you feel, pick it up if you want and back off if your knee starts to feel sore. I hummed and hawed over this. That strategy went against every fibre of my being. When the horn went off at the start of the 10K that is when I decided, I am not a runner, listen to the expert, because the expert is not me. So I went a comfortable pace the first 3K then decided I felt good and picked up the tempo. I ended up 2nd place woman overall in the event, and most importantly my knee is good! Of course part of me says " I could've won, had I just sped up the first 3K". But Lee is right when he says " Yeah, but you may not have finished the race at all."
Experiences like this one truly help me realize that there is a lot I need to learn. I am certainly not an expert (wait until I tell you about trying to ride a road bike) at many things. The question you should ask yourself is "Are you coachable?" I always say yes, but I don't think it was ever an honest answer, until now. I have taken the first step to admitting I am not all knowing about all things competition, and that it is okay to give yourself over to someone who is. Whether you are a new athlete or a long time competitor it is important to listen to our coaches, weigh their advice and follow it. So take a look in the mirror and ask yourself " Am I coachable?" Think about it. Being open to different ideas isn't easy but it can make the difference between success and failure at anything you undertake.
