As anticipated, I have been anticipating the crimson wave this week, and I missed both early morning runs due to feeling fatigued all week. I managed to rally and complete a 30-minute Pilates workout, and I also did a final thirty-minute outdoor run on Friday before the race. This may have been for the best, as it allowed me to conserve my energy and avoid being too fatigued for the race.

Overall, my energy was low throughout the week, and I was feeling down. Some of it was due to the weather, which has been depressing and gray, and a lot of it is due to my current era of life.  It’s a down season of life. Like most of the world, I am in a state of limbo. I am between two eras of life, and I feel it in the way of regretting squandering time and feeling like I’m dealing with the consequences of choosing the short stick so many times. It all came to a head this week. One of my primary motivators for doing this run is to regain some momentum by stacking wins and revisiting activities that I enjoyed when life was going well and more exciting.

 

Race Expo

As I walked to the race expo, I enjoyed the beautiful views of the Bay. I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I am lucky to have been born in such a beautiful city. I was reminded of my mom when I saw Alcatraz, because when she was one of the chaperones for my third-grade field trip, she was disappointed about how it was falling apart. My field trip was thirty-five years ago, so I can’t imagine how bad it is now, and I just cracked up laughing thinking about what she would have said about Alcatraz becoming an operational prison. She would have had PLENTY to say about what a stupid idea it is.

Memories of Half Marathons Past

As I walked to the expo, I followed the same route I had taken during my first disastrous SF Half Marathon in 2010.  I did everything wrong that you could imagine. I did not train for hills. I tried a new pre-race meal the morning of the race, leading to terrible gastrointestinal distress, and I had to use the disgusting public bathrooms. I also was not well hydrated and ended up with horrible calf cramps running across the Golden Gate Bridge and through the park. It was terrible. The following year, I followed a much better plan, incorporating hill training, strength training, and long runs, while dialing in my nutrition. As a result, I lost about ten pounds and saw a significant improvement in my time, which was now around forty minutes faster.  You live and you learn. At that time, I was proud that I even did it. I completed three half marathons and then transitioned to training for a fitness competition.

Inspiration and Motivation

I enjoyed the race expo, and I needed to be around different fitness energy. Fitness is inspiring and motivating in the right environment. Excellent fitness trainers and instructors are true gems, spreading positive energy and inspiration to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. Never again will I take it for granted to be around those types of trainers and instructors and to be in that type of environment.

Since I am dealing with my “women’s troubles,” I will keep it low-key for the weekend and probably make myself a bison burger for the iron, as my energy is low. I am proud of myself for running this 10K at forty-three years old when I am not in the most motivated place in my life. I need the win, and I refuse to lie around and feel sorry for myself. The only way to the next era of my life is FORWARD.

Let’s goooooo!!!!!!