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This morning I was to participate in a West Island circuit competition - I was to run the 5 K, the 10 K and the 2000m. But it was so cold ('d'you believe minus 15 C with chill factor?) that I opted for the lazy man's approach (which in some convenient circumstances can obligingly be identified as the wise man's approach, and I won't argue), IOW, instead of running the 5K, sweat it out a bit, at least at the end, then having to chill out while awaiting the start of the 10K, I just ran the 10K. Not a second thought for the 2000 meters...
The idea was to "marathon-pace" myself, which I did (22:22 for the firt 5, 22:38 for second 5, 45 minutes flat in the cold and wind). But normally, marathon-pacing yourself means taking it easy - but I worked hard in some ways (nothing wrong with the engine, baby, it's the wheels).
But conversely, it was difficult to keep the foot on the clutch. These usually slower runners were just passing by, impudently I might add, and I was thinking of Voodoo ("don't get competitive now, there are only so many miles left in that hip of yours!!!"), and I was telling myself, let them youngsters have their hour of glory... I am sooooo good!
I had done everything right (except getiing rested) : got there on time, "warmed up" (yeah, right!) properly, and put an old nickel in my pocket (always put an especially old nickel, not a dime, not a quarter, but a worn out nickel in your pocket, if you want to have an enjoyable run).
But not everyone was cooperating: despite my intentions I remained in mid-pack...
Today I start my taper period for the Boston marathon (Already???!!!). And as I was running today, I was thinking three weeks ahead of time... Hopkinton, then 42,2 kilometers of racing... I know this will be my last marathon, so I "romantized" the images of last years' Boston marathon which I will experience again...
And THEN I thought of Ali (my hero), and got into the paraphrase game, and it went like this...
"I will enjoy Hopkinton, the camaraderie of fellow runners, the joy of the spectators, the pain, the hills... PLUS, I'll get to whupp FrontRunner!!!!"
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