I thought I would share with you my last race I did back in 2020. This was my last race I did competitively and thought it would be a good kick-off to sharing my journey in running as of today.  I should note that this post is choppy.  The reason is that I am taking you inside my head.  These are my actual thoughts that I could remember after I did my cool down.

6:00am-Driving to the race I visualize and rehearse the plan one last time. When I finished I thought to myself. “That’s it, it is what it is at this point.“ I have put in the work physically and mentally. I should be able to run my target time. The only thing to stop me at this point is just to have a bad day. If that’s the case then what can I do? Absolutely nothing.

6:30, time for breakfast (about 2 hours till I race). I ate it slowly to make sure it was going to be useful for the race. It was my typical running breakfast two mini cinnamon raisin bagels and a banana.

7:00am-I arrived at the race.  As I pulled into the parking lot, I try to take in my surroundings.  Most important, where are the bathrooms.  Next where will I warm-up, foam roll, stretch, and do some strides.  There is a small grassy area in front of me, perfect. Then I see the beach.  I decide to go take a look.  It took me a moment to take it all in.  The sun was rising and reflecting off the clouds and ocean.  The sky was on fire with the clouds struggling to keep the rays at bay.  The waves were actually really high and crashing loudly. However there was a calmness to the ocean.  The color of the ocean, usually a dark dirty green, was a clean crisp blue.  I tried to take a picture to capture it, but it did not even come close to what I see.  Then I realized, it’s really cold.  I am shivering, time to head back to the car and warm up.  Time is flying by.

8:00am-I got out of the car, It’s time to go through my warm up routine.  I started with some foam rolling.  Then went out for a slow half mile warmup run.  I forgot to put my running shoes on.  But I decide to just keep going as the shoes I had on were old running shoes anyways.  As I was running the sun was up and bright and the waves were breaking against some rocks.  Several cars were parked to take in the view.  I could see why, it is just a beautiful sight.  When I return I grab my gear and put it down beside me and I start stretching.  I wanted to start running at 8:20.  I’m a little behind schedule, but this next part is my favorite warmup part and deserves its moment.  I always love to put a fresh pair of clean cool socks on.  The feeling to me is just cooling and awakening.  Now to suck down some GU, swig some water, and one more pit stop.  I do a few strides towards the start line.  It’s “Go time!”  I take my mask off, say thank you to the volunteers.  I set my watch and I am off.

First target (1 Mile @ 6:50 per mile pace)- I am expecting to go down hill.  To my surprise it’s flat.  Okay…maybe the decline is up ahead.  For now I decide to scroll.  Interesting, my left hamstring is a little crampy, I would expect that on my right hamstring (I had problems with my right hamstring during training).  I focus on it and it relaxes.  I continue to scroll, right foot has a little sharp pain.  I can deal with that, it’s a good distraction if needed.  My breath is a little heavy, better check my pace.  6:30, way to fast..I need to slow down.  I’m feeling good though, by the way…where is that down hill?   Still to fast 6:40 per mile.  Okay, well flat is good too…There is the 1 mile marker already. My watch goes off and says I hit 6:40 before I cross the actual marker.

Second Target (1.4 Miles @ 7:00 minute pace)-Still no down hill, yet still better than an uphill.  I’m trying hard to slow down to 7:00 pace.  I’m able to get to 6:50…this could be bad or good.  I may need the energy at the end of the race.  Angelo…slow down.

Third Target (2.5 Miles goal time 17:20)-The course is supposed start going uphill and a water station is somewhere in this segment.  I’m still having a hard time slowing to a 7 minute mile pace.  The adrenaline is still flowing in me.  2 miles already, I’m at a 6:54 pace.  okay that’s better…and I am still short of the marker. Wait! There is a water station.  Let’s see how this goes.  I grab the water unscrew the cap (trying not to lose my glove).  Seriously, they covered the trash can so there is only a small hole to throw the bottle in?  Actually, this is a good thing come to think of it, it forces me to slow down.  2.5 miles check point 16:58. 22 seconds faster than I had planned…actually I maybe right on point considering my watch is not aligned with the markings.

Fourth Target (5 miles goal time 35:40)-I should be going uphill.  I just cannot seem to slow myself down.  Since I’m feeling good, I decide to stay at this pace based on how I feel.  Unless I hit an uphill.  I just know that if I need to I can slow down and make it up later on because I’m on target or maybe a little ahead.  The delayed hill is working in my favor at this point.  Soon I am hitting 3 miles and my watch is off .17 Miles compared to the course.  I will have to recalibrate my watch after this race.  Two people pass me on the course.  Every competitive part of me is heightened.  My body naturally wants to go with them.  In my younger years there would be no way I would stand for this.  I needed to keep up and mentally try to “break” the competition.  However, I am a different runner now, I need to run my plan.  If I catch them great, if not, well I have next year when I will train and be better than I am today.  So, I let them go.  I hit Mile 4 with a spike of adrenaline as I watch the two racers pull away (uggg!!! I have to admit it’s a struggle to let them go).  But my mind switches to a different annoyance.  In this race, traffic is not shut down and the shoulders of the road are big enough to squeeze only 2 people side-by-side, but not if you’re trying to adhere to social distancing.  In order to pass a single person you have to go into the road with traffic coming from behind you.  So when two people are walking or jogging side by side you have to go into the road where cars are coming from behind you.  So as I am running I am listening for two things people coming from behind me to pass and cars.  Sometimes I had to go slow behind people to let traffic go by before I could pass.  Very annoying and inconsiderate of other runners.  I won’t even get into those walking side by side in groups of threes or more making it difficult for cars and racers.  I don’t mind people doing this, but don’t inconvenience others.  You can break your group up for two seconds to let people go by.  I could see the other two runners who passed me were having the same difficulty.  I guess it does help me slow down a bit.  Oh my!!! here is a big hill!  I am slowing my self down (who am I kidding, the hill is doing it for me).  I slow down but only 10 seconds per mile. Hitting the 5 mile marker at 34:10.

Fifth target (6 miles for refueling).  We hit a good down hill which was nice.   I started catching up to one of the racers that passed me earlier.  Okay, if I need to I will focus on this person to help drive me through a tough time.  Never mind…I just passed them.  Okay plenty of people to focus on.  6 miles I see the water station as we start climbing a steeper hill.  I pull my GU from my running belt, it’s a nice belt I barely even know I am wearing one.  It’s a little difficult as I try not to lose my key and my glove.  This is why I don’t like to use new things when running a race(but no matter) I figured it out (Just barely hanging onto my glove).  I start heading down hill right at the top, this must be the peak. I can start picking it up…This makes me happy.

Sixth target (6.5 miles goal time 46:40)-I’m actually wrong, where the heck did this hill come from!!?? Okay just run it like you planned Angelo, this must be the peak I was thinking about.  I hope.  44:39 was what my clock said.  I knew it was off, but I prepared for this sort of thing.  I need to run based on the watch, that is the one constant I have from my training.  It is a bummer if it is way off though.

Seventh target (7 miles Elevation peak)-Looks like it ended earlier, which is good.  Cruising down the hill I am feeling really good and picking up my pace.  I have my refresher still to use.  Things are going well…Ugggg another hill.  Okay…fine this has to be it.  I slow down a bit.

Eighth Target (9 miles goal time 1:03:45)-That hill was just an annoyance.  I Should be good to go now.  I pick up the pace again.  I can hear someone behind me.  Looks like they are using me as a pacer.  Oh well my watch is telling me my average pace and it’s getting quicker (I have to admit I am a little more pumped up seeing my pace)…what the!!!…what the!!! What is that hill doing here!!! I was not expecting that!  Not only that but this is a big one.  I slow down…not sure how many more of these hills I can take.  I slow down about 20 seconds on this hill.  There is a water station..nice a little pick me up.  I am going to use my refresher at mile 9 for sure.  Actually where is the marker? It should be near by.  There is a person cheering and directing traffic.  What is he saying? I can barely hear him “Only a 5k left, Do you have a 5K left in you!?”  My brain is doing the math…”yeah.?” I say weakly not convinced there is only a 5K left, “I cannot hear you.  I need more energy!  Do you have a 5K left in you!!!”  He holds out his fist.  “Yeah!” I yell with a little more enthusiasm.  He wants a fist a fist pump.  Am I allowed to fist pump this guy?  What the heck, why not!  I fist pump him..maybe I missed something maybe I only have a 5K to go! I must have missed the 9 mile marker.  There is a sign up ahead, is that the 10 mile marker.  Sweet!  Wait nope it’s a direction sign.  Come to think about it, these signs are annoying because I keep mistaken them as a mile marker.  Okay…I need to use my refresher I need to pull these gloves off.  I wiggle my fingers and feel the fresh cool air hit them.  Ahhhh…okay let’s get focused next target is mile 11.  Wait…what!!!?? Does that sign have a 9 on it!?? I look at my watch it says I’m approaching 9.5 miles, how is this possible?  I get closer sure enough it says 9.  I want to cuss so badly right now.  Okay, Angelo…just focus…focus on the next target.  I can start to feel the energy in me start to go.  Just two more miles and you have another water station.  Let’s get to it!

Ninth Target (11 miles target time 1:17:25)-Okay…even if I crash I have ran the entire race exactly how I wanted and I should be happy.  I have no idea what pace I’m actually going.  But I’m focused on what my watch says (even though it’s a liar).  Okay…what’s this?  Are they taking us off the road?  Are we going to be running on dirt? Usually means rolling hills. Am I lost (Won’t be the first time) I don’t need this.  Nope!  There is someone ahead of me.  Nice… okay let’s see where this goes, it’s a bike trail.  10.5 where is the 10 mile marker?  Maybe I missed it when I was thinking I was lost.  I’m gaining quickly on the person in front of me.  Wait.. what is that?  That looks like a water station trash can up on the road. And what is that?…the road is ending.  The person in front of me stops and starts heading towards the road.  We went the wrong way! Quick, get back on the road.  I have to climb over a small brown barrier.  Oh legs please work for me.  Stopping is not good.  Luckily a small amount of adrenaline pushed me through.  I guess there is no water station untill I reach the end.  There is no way I am going back to find the station.  There is a sign, 11 miles.  No idea…but I think I’m faster on time by about a minute.  No worries now…  just about two more miles left.

Tenth Target (11.5 miles course goes flat) -The course is supposed to go flat.  Throw this out the window.  I don’t trust my knowledge of the course to know if it’s true.

Finish line-Here is where my track workouts come into play.  I know the sweet spot of letting go and going way too fast ( at least the feeling).  My legs are starting to burn… but I just let my self go.  Let’s just finish.  The racer that I passed earlier, passed me again.  “Nice job” I said.  “ We have to finish strong!” He replied.  Yeah… I won’t last long at that pace.  I continue to keep my pace and I can see some hills. It doesn’t matter I am just going at this pace.  My quadriceps are starting to yell.  Come on..don’t give up on me… I need you…we’re almost there…I am begging them.  Then…this different sensation started grabbing my attention.  Could it be?  Yes!  It was my feet.  They were starting to burn.  Every step on either foot was starting to burn stronger.  It was the distraction from my quadriceps that I needed.  In a sick way I tried to get my feet to hurt.  The faster I went the more my feet yelled.  Let’s see how hot I can get them.  I am only about…who knows at this point.  I know I am close because I can see the area where a finish line should be.  Just go Angelo…you got this. My watch goes off..1:27….okay I have 4 minutes to get my butt across that finish line no matter where it is.  Go! Go! Burn! Burn!  There it is!!! Yes!! Okay…maintain the pace.  You got this…where am I…I look at my watch…forget it…nothing you can do now…just crossss tttthhhhaaatt finishhhhh line!  It’s over…it’s over.  I try to pause my watch…okay!  Pause watch..pause!! Stupid thing pause! 1:29:53.  My legs don’t want to move…but I did it.  I beat my expected time of 1:31:46.  Yesssss!!! Okay…keep moving…keep walking or you may just get stuck because your legs will lock up…Yessss!! I did it!