Remember how I was taking a break from racing?
Remember how I had run 8 races so far in 2013 (2 half marathons, 3 marathons, a 50k and a 50 mi)?
Well, I lasted a month and a half before another race just happened to slip into the mix.
Not bad. I was supposed to take a 2.5 month break from racing and just focus on training and let my body recover, but when you have friends that love to run and use races as training runs, it can happen pretty easily. This is how the conversation (over text) went down.
To protect the identity of the innocent and to keep this G rated, I’m paraphrasing.
Larry: We should catch up.
Me: We def. need to chat over a LONG run, Maybe next wknd.
Larry: I need 16 next weekend
Me: Cool. I’ll run that with you.
Larry: Except I’m supposed to do Giant Race on Sunday. Are you signed up?
Me: Na. I’m not running it. Was planning on doing milage Saturday.
Larry: Darn. Do you want to do it?
Me: Is it sold out? Hadn’t planned on it.
Larry. Half is not sold out. I was going to do 16 and run 3 before at a comfortable pace.
Right here is where I get in trouble… it was the mention that it was not going to be a “fast” run, but incorporated into a longer training run. Makes sense, right? Just mix in some miles before, then run with a bunch of other people, get a medal and a bobblehead… sounds fun?
Me: Let me think about it. Let you know tomorrow.
Well, we all know how this story ends… yep. I’m running a half marathon this Sunday. I’ve run the Giant Race before. It starts outside AT&T park does and out and back along the Embarcadero, then finishes INSIDE AT&T Park on the field. It’s a fun race that I think should be run for fun, not so much for a shot at a PR or to be taken “too” seriously.
With a Sergio Romo bobble head, it has to be for fun, right?
Sergio Romo bobble head
So that is what I will be doing this weekend. But I can’t really be held accountable for my actions… I’m just trying to catch up with a friend and do a comfortable pace 16 mile run. I pretty much was going to do that on Saturday, so I might as well do it on Sunday and score some runner swag, right… right?
Can I be held accountable for my actions?
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haha! It sounds like a fun run and a good way to get the distance in. I’ve enjoyed throwing in half marathons during my training, a super supported long run, I’ll take it! Enjoy the race!!
looks like a fun race! We can always be duped by running buds ;)
I blame it on Sergio Romo. I mean,who could say NO to that bobble head?!?!
What are friends for, right? I’m looking for a race this weekend, but summer races are hard to come by in Austin :-(
Have a great race and we can blame this one on Larry!
HAHA I’d also run just for that bobblehead! Good luck dude!
Hey at least you’ll get something cool out of it, plus some QT with a friend. And you’ll get your mileage in. Sounds like a win win to me ;-)
haha awesome, I don’t think I could deny that race either!
Ah, peer pressure. Enjoy the race!
I reckon it’s meant to be! Hope you enjoy!
I love your logic! It makes perfect sense to me. Have fun!
I would run through a river of spiders for bobblehead swag. But I would “race” for it. It’s all in the semantics :D
The exact same thing just happened to me- after 6 races in 2013 to date, I told myself no racing for the months of July and August. Then a couple weeks ago, I went ahead and signed up for the Angel Island 12K! Couldn’t even go easy on myself and pick a flat and fast road race- GEESH! We’ll never learn… but I think we’re okay with that! ;)
Haha, love this post. This is how I get myself into so many races too, but I agree. Why not get the swag and enjoy a planned course?! Have fun!
hahaha…right! catching up with an old friend over what you love, that sounds fun to me. i often find myself writing posts like this in my head except about things like restaurants and vineyards, not running :P