No whining in running

Ever finished a race and felt disappointment, unsure of why? And then felt like a wanker for bemoaning a decent time?

It happens, I hope not just to me, and is borne out of an inner competitive streak that thrives even as the years continue to accumulate.

This weekend was the Under Armour Eastside 10k in Vancouver and by any objective measure it was a good race. While traversing the route, no moments of panic, pains in side or mentally questioning what I was doing; even did alright in the kill the hill challenge (though was careful not to turn it into kill the race).

However, it wasn’t the time desired. Hence, the ennui.

So first let’s recount the ‘challenges’ faced.

Weather: Cold and rainy start and a 10 minute delay in firing the gun meant extra time in poor weather.

Course: It’s a fun course but the start has some tight, narrow turns on slippery stones. Wending one’s way through the pack a challenge.

Taper week: Was on the road for seven days, so three different hotels provided nightly comfort. Largely still got short runs in but schedule was wonky.

Nutrition: Each morning started out fine and then the days unfolded into array of receptions and appies and refreshments. Discipline was not fully exercised.

So, those are the excuses. All valid, in some fashion, though not completely mitigating factors. When the same course was tackled last year, I’d slept in own bed, ate and drank properly and also ran more than three minutes slower.

The reality is no one runs a PB every time. Sometimes the ‘bad day’ comes on race day. There are folks who have trained their entire lives for the Olympics and, sadly, that turns out to be the bad day. So in comparison, my missing a PB by 27 seconds seems a little whiny.

Now, the only time I ever see the leaders of a race is when they’re already looping back towards the finish line. That’s done and sorted, winning the race isn’t happening. But the PB – while a motivator – is also not the only measure of how you performed.

Let’s be honest, as an old man the time is coming where my times will not improve – plateau will be the hope and dream. And with more races under belt comes the realization that age class gives pretty good indication of where you stack up.

My last three races – Scotiabank Half Marathon, San Francisco Marathon and Eastside 10k – I’ve placed top 10 in age category and top 200 overall. It provides an idea of where I should be against my cohort – folks who ran the same course in the identical conditions – and likely suffering through the same aging tribulations. Once those PBs stop coming, the age class will be the sole quantifier (along with ability to get out of bed the next day) for victory on any given Sunday.

Having an acceptance of what is to come doesn’t change the fact, though, that when crossing the finish line at the Good Life Marathon in Victoria if a new PB isn’t clocked there will be disenchantment. Followed by a voice in my head saying: “You’re old, still healthy enough to run 42.2 kilometres, so stop whining, you wanker.”