This Sunday I will be running in only my second half-marathon of the year. I’m looking forward to lining up with my fellow bloggers during the Rise.Run.Retreat at the Leaf Peeper Half Marathon race in Waterbury, Vermont. The one word that I have repeated over and over in my head while training for this race has been “timeless.”
While I can’t sit here and type lies about how my finish time will not matter (it always does!) I can tell you my race plan does not involve time.
Not pace time.
Not finish time.
Not age group place time.
None of it.
How exactly do I plan to accomplish this throwing of time out the window? I’ll tell you in three easy steps…
1. What Watch?
I’ve become exceptional at not looking at my watch. I was never really a watch looker so it wasn’t that far of a stretch but now, I make a point of not looking and running by feel.
This technique worked for me at my first half-marathon of the season in Colchester, CT where I set a three minute PR and, I fully intend to do it again. Well, not the three minute PR but the “running by feel.”
The issue with looking at your watch is that your pace is always going to vary. We’re not treadmill running here and, most of us are human so, there is going to be a lot of pace changes. The problem arises when you look at your pace and it’s “slow” so you speed up then, you look again and it’s “fast” so you slow down. All of this slowing down and speeding up over the course of 13.1 miles only makes you physically and mentally exhausted. Plus, it’s kind of fun to be surprised at the end.
[Tweet “Have a #timless #race goal! You may surprise yourself. #train4life”]
2. What Pace?
In case you haven’t noticed, all I have been racing are triathlons. I know exactly what my 10k and 5k paces are after swimming and biking in either the sprint or the olympic distance triathlon race. What I don’t know is what the hell my half marathon pace will be and how that may translate from one sport to the other.
I’m pretty excited to find out and, since I think my pace is probably somewhere in between 6:50-7:10, but really could be much higher so, what is the point of setting a goal pace?
3. What Pressure?
This is my first race without the pressure of a qualification or rank so why would I ruin that by putting undo pressure on myself? I also know this course has a three mile uphill start and is 75% paved and 25% dirt. We all know how much I love to run on dirt, right?
I never used to be able to fathom running a race “for fun” because fun for me meant winning and/or achieving a PR. This entire weekend is about so much more than a race time and I intend to truly enjoy it.
For seven months out of the year I live in a pressure cooker of goals. I have a huge goal already lined up for 2017 that I think about on a daily basis. I believe I owe it to myself to simply enjoy this race and this weekend, to lose the watch and the expectations, and get lost in time.
Last year’s Rise.Run.Retreat was about so much more than a race! It also was about me wearing this dorky hat. #nerdalert
Do you race for “fun?”
When is the last time you lived timelessly?
I know the feeling if “not looking at a watch” because I’ve forgotten mine to races so many times LOL. I think you are going to do awesome and I look forward to seeing how it goes for you. I think sometimes we surprise ourselves with how well a race can go.
I know you forget your watch sometimes and I’m always like GAH!!! But, it usually turns out for the best 🙂 Thanks for the vote of confidence. Here we go…
I often race for fun–honestly, I have to go into it like that or I will put far too much pressure on myself! So even if gameface gets put on during, the week of and the beginning of the race I have to decompress by taking off the pressure.
YES! I love that strategy. Sometimes the game face just comes out along the way. We shall see… Thanks Susie!
Oh and good luck and have fun!
Oh right – that too 🙂
Ha ha ha… “full ass.” That’s awesome. Did you know that up until last year, I ran every single one of my races without a Garmin? I didn’t own one until just over a year ago. So it’s definitely possible to run your best race without ever monitoring time and pace. YEAHHH. Good luck! You and your entire ass are going to KILL THIS MF RACE!
LOL!!! And OMG seriously about the Garmin? You are living proof that no Garmin is EVA needed!!! Thanks so much Suzy xoxo
I’m sure you will do great…. I always wear a garmin, but I don’t really pay too much attention to it…. I run by feel, too. I’m seriously beyond jealous that you are going on this retreat again…. have a great time.
I’m seriously so mad you are not here with us!!! Thank you and we shall see what happens…
I haven’t worn my watch at a race this year! It’s just not where I am at right now and I prefer to take the pressure off. Not like I’ve really “raced” much lately anyway, but you know what I mean! Good luck this weekend! I can’t wait to hear how you do!
I totally know what you mean and, when you’re in more of a “workout” mode, it’s best to leave the watch at home for sure! Thanks Danielle.
I hope you have a great time!! I love that you are running for no specific time. I mostly look at my watch for the current time and to see how much of the mile is left lol! Enjoy Vermont!!
LOL! I sometimes do that at the end!!! Thanks Nellie 🙂
Good luck!! I needed the reminder of how important it is to ignore the watch- I am definitely guilty of speeding up and slowly down and messing with my head. So not helpful! I’m hoping I can ignore (mostly?) my watch next weekend in the marathon.
I ran a few races without any pressure this summer for the first time- amazing!! Why have we not thought of this before?!
It will help tremendously! Trust that your body knows how to run the paces you have pounded into it over the last few months 🙂 GOOD LUCK!!!
Ok firrrrrrrst off happy official Friday! I know it’s Friday because we are celebrating my hubby’s birthday tonight and have a sitter coming. Lol
I love this post soooooooo effing much! I can’t even tell you how much. But I’ll try. I love racing no fir fun and always have had the best overall performance and fun this way. Why do I bother trying!? Who knows. Anyhow I get irritated when I’m running with people that constantly look at their watch. It’s like OH I’m going too fast we need to slow down my watch told me so. Or OH I’m going too slow my legs hurt but I’m not at my goal pace. How dies your body feel??? Why not see if you can tune into your friggin bod and go from there?! Easier said than done but I just wish we could all run based on feelings. Not every single time but sometimes. We don’t need to be staring at our wrists the entire run. It’s rather ridiculous. But I get it. It’s an addiction and habit. So I’ll shut up and enjoy the weather.
Have an awesome and amazing time Ali!! You’re my spirit animal!
Happy birthday to your husband and I’m really glad you now know what day it is 🙂 although no one would blame you for NOT knowing!!
Thanks so much and YES to running for fun!
I think my Panama City Beach half in December will be just for fun. Because, Florida. And I’m going with 6 other women whom I barely know.
But your refusal to look at your watch begs the question: how can you not? It’s the Fenix…
Good luck and have a blast!
You’re going with 6 other women you don’t know?? You need to explain that…??? 🙂
And, I look at the beautiful face of the fenix 150,000 times a day so what’s 20 less? LOL!! Thanks Wendy.
Ok, I know one of them really well…the others, I know through blogging. Kind of like pen pals, right?
Or online dating…LOL, yes something like that!
I think I need to get back to the not looking at the watch thing. The pressure of splits has been getting me down lately. You my friend were a running rockstar this weekend on those hills. I admire your discipline, dedication, and drive to succeed in sport and life. Thank you for sharing your stories and everything with us all this weekend! xoxo
Thank you so much for saying that Sandra!! I loved seeing you so much this weekend. YOU have a huge drive and dedication and I’m so inspired by ALL that you do – as a mom, a friend and as an athlete. One of the best things I ever did was stop looking at my watch. Had I looked on Sunday I would surely have tried to speed things up, which would have probably resulted in disaster. With ALL the running we do, our bodies know the paces so just let them run the way they have already been trained to 🙂
Miss you so much already!! #cluckcluck
You did a great job out there on those hills this weekend!! I have been somewhat “tied” to my watch and paces, however, in training, I sometimes try to leave the watch at home. Constantly looking at my watch can be cause for some discouragement or I go too fast! I find it helpful to leave me watch at home on “easy” days, so that I can truly just run by “feel”. It helps me to really slow down. I really love your energy, passion and honesty about running and life! Loved getting to know you this past weekend!!
Thanks so much Kara! It’s definitely better to just leave the watch home on easy days…and sometimes for races too 🙂
So great getting to know you at the retreat. What an amazing weekend!!!