Today I raced the McConnell’s 5K, and ran the McConnell’s 10K.
Racing is all business, with the focus on pacing, form and breathing. Remarks between runners, if any, are terse, purposeful…”Too fast that mile.” ”Relax your arms.” “Good job.” Race discourse is mostly inward: listening to body cues while feeling your way to the fastest pace you can run that particular day, talking down discomfort, directing arms/hands and legs to unclench or pick it up, ordering shoulders to relax, doing math (shudder).
I had a fairly good race today, considering I haven’t done much speedwork lately. I ran the first two miles with Fran, which was really fun. We didn’t say much beyond the above-described curt dialogue, but it was a comfort and an impetus to share footfalls, drawing silent strength from the invisible cord that binds racers when they pace together. The last mile is completely silent. I am focusing on running under 21:15, which I almost-but-not-quite achieve, and my curses when Romi and Liz Groom pass me remain unverbalized (not only a civilized gesture, but practical–it takes too much energy to shout invective.)
Running, on the other hand, especially with talkative types like Travis and Kim, is social. Kim and I used the 10K as a slow-side tempo, while Travis was basically jogging. He floated us through the first three miles with genial banter. With enough oomph left in him, I might add, after taking 2nd in the 5K, to roar “BIKE UP!!!” or “BIKE BACK” to runners fore and aft. After he dropped us at the 5K mark, Kim and I were noticeably quieter, sort of straddling the line between serious/sociable, which is exactly how a tempo should feel. Inevitably, we slipped into racing mode the last half mile, and zipped our lips while zipping along with our feet.
I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, which don’t usually happen in tandem. Normally, I’m either racing or tempo-ing, but rarely together in the same morning. ’Nuff said.
Maggie -
I so enjoyed running (the first part of) the 5K with you. You have a solidness, an evenness, a comfort level to your racing, that is in stark contrast to my desperate, somewhat random racing technique. I did draw strength from just watching you, feeling your sureness. And thanks for the “terse, purposeful” comments. I don’t run much – and except for races, most of my running is done solo . It’s great to get some feedback. . .
Fran
Maggie:
Thanks again for the wooden hello !
Yes Travis is chatty,which I enjoy, takes the mind off the task at hand. but sometimes we or i must be aware wheter we to speak or put a cork in it. As jill Z told me to do on a saturday tempo run.