Not electric shock, but with your performance? As I get ready for Steelhead as my ‘A’ race and hoping for a PR, I look at my training and have a realistic goal in mind. Some of my training buddies tell me they think I’ll ‘shock’ myself and go 10-15 minutes faster than I’m expecting.
I’ve done 3 1/2 IMs before, so I have some idea of what to expect based on my training. I’ve gone longer, more often in all 3 disciplines in the last 10-14 weeks and feel confident in my goal, but still I think things need to fall right for it to happen.
So, my question, have you ever gone into a race with what you thought was a realistic goal and finished significantly faster than you expected, maybe even faster than you thought possible?
I once ran a HIM run with an avg HR of 173 the entire time saying to myself “you should be bonking any second now, you should be bonking any second now.” That second never came and I PR’d by 25+min… (Granted it was only my 4th HIM and only the 5th time I actually ever “raced” 13.1 miles, but none-the-less I was shocked.
I’ve been shocked at how pathetic I can be at times, but never in a good way. The closest would be my shock at how fast I ran the first half of my last marathon. I was equally as shocked at how slow I ran the second half.
Unfortunately I’m usually shocked that I don’t do better. I guess by now the shock should wear off but it hasn’t.
For the life of me I can’t see what’s so damn tough about breaking half an hour in a 1,500 meter swim but for some reason I can’t do it and am always suprised that I don’t.
Only once, and that was when I was in college. I’d been working in Alaska for a couple months, and really couldn’t train. After I got back, I did a 10K… Well, I went for a loop run to warm up, not really knowing how long it was, but I knew it ended right by the start. As I’m nearing what I think is the end of the loop, I see the speed walkers coming at me (geez, they were going fast). And I barely hear the announcer say something about 10 minutes to start time…
I PR’d the race, and it felt SO easy… You just never know.
OK, you’ll be one guy to watch We are in the same age group. good luck, don’t think too much about the time. There are a lot of factors go into it other than your training! Keep up with your training and don’t forget to have fun!
A couple of times. I ran a marathon as a long training run for another marathon and ended up PRing by almost 6 minutes. That was totally unexpected as I never tried to run hard. I went on to set another PR in the marathon I was training for, but I expected that. 6 days after the first marathon I won the overall at a sprint duathlon. That was a big shock as I was 48 at the time and running is my weakness. While waiting for the official results I overheard some younger guys talking about some 48 year old guy who smoked them, but I didn’t know it was me until my name was announced as the winner.
In more recent races I’ve been surprised - not shocked - at how well I’ve done with almost no training. Not great compared to others, but much better than would be expected with so little training.
It happened to me just last September, at the Philadelphia Distance Run. I ran a PR on a day I expected something good, but certainly not that. Not after my first year of racing with a non-sleeping newborn in the house.
Yes, my first and only tri thus far. A sprint. Simply wanted to finish in under 1:50 and no lower than next to last in my AG. Finished in 1:31/17th out of 29th AG. And there were hills (someone needs to develop a definitive definition of “relatively flat”)! And I passed people the entire time!
My second sprint is this Saturday… my goal… under 1:50 and no lower than next to last in my AG. Oh, and not to fall off of my bike in public
Not often, but this weekend I ran my second road race after 9 months of rehabbing a bum ankle. I thought I’d be grotesquely slow, but instead, I was just pudgy slow. A pleasant surprise!
“Some of my training buddies tell me they think I’ll ‘shock’ myself and go 10-15 minutes faster than I’m expecting.”
yep, done it twice now.
first HIM (and third tri ever)…genuinely hoping, pleading, praying on a perfect day might just crack 5hrs…finished in 4:45…completely shocked, beyond my wildest dreams!!!
second HIM, two months later, much much tougher course, ok this time no way i’ll break 5hrs…4:52 & 9th overall (weaker field explains the placing).
“…but still I think things need to fall right for it to happen.”
absolutely, but don’t rely on luck…tick EVERY box in your preparation and it’ll happen!
A couple months ago I almost caught a guy on the run that I have not beaten on any similar distance before. It stunned me so much that I did not have the power to pass him. Because surely in my mind I was content to finish so close to him.
have you ever gone into a race with what you thought was a realistic goal and finished significantly faster than you expected, maybe even faster than you thought possible?
Yes. I wish I could bottle it when it happens.
Last year at IMLP. Stretch goal was 10:45, I pretty much just wanted to break 11 in my first IM.
I blew away each goal split, finished in 10:20, got a Kona slot.
Less dramatic, this year at a very hilly early season 30k. Last year I went 2:12, this year I was hoping for maybe 2:05-2:07. Felt great right from the start, took over the lead after the 6th mile, and held on for 2nd place oa, with a time of under 2:00.
I’m a firm believer in allowing yourself to have a fantastic day. Don’t let your preconceived notions hold you back.
I usually run my Olympic distance 10k in 45-46 minutes. The first race of the season, after coming off of an injury, my run split was a 42.45. I am still trying to figure out where that came from!
We are in the same age group. good luck, don’t think too much about the time. There are a lot of factors go into it other than your training! Keep up with your training and don’t forget to have fun!
