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TARC Fall Classic 2013

Exactly one week ago, last Friday, a co-worker asked me what I had on tap for the weekend.

“Oh, just a race tomorrow morning,” I said.

“Uh-oh! I’m afraid to ask how long!” she said.

“It’s only a half-marathon,” I said. I said “only,” only because earlier this year she would ask me how long my races were and I’d say horrific things like “50 miles” and “100K.”

But of course she started laughing. “Only a half-marathon!”

Ha ha, but really. A half-marathon doesn’t seem like much to me any more. For the TARC Fall Classic, I was originally signed up to do the marathon, but the fact that I’m kinda sort maybe trying to qualify for Boston by running the Philadelphia Marathon next month gave me pause, because this TARC Fall Classic is the very race that effectively ended my season last year, when I pulled my quad running the 50K (a week after running the Chicago marathon). I’ve learned. I emailed the race director the week before and asked to switch to the half, because, if I’m going to qualify for Boston, I need more running fast, not more running long.

I’m not that fast, though. Faster than last year, for sure. I’ve used some of Mr. P’s road-running techniques — tempo runs, sprints. I even went to the local high school track one morning but then the football team showed up and I freaked out and left… the next day, I had a knot in my hamstring and I vowed to Mr. P “No more running fast.” But the allure of finishing higher in the race results is undeniable. I’ve evolved past wanting to do a race to prove I could do the distance; I now aspire to be faster in the shorter distances, to be a little more competitive in the popular local races, and dare I say, I aspire to qualify for Boston (which involves running 26 miles for about 8:20/mile, so yeah, it’s insane, but why not try)?

Among the local trail running community, the TARC events are beloved and always very competitive. There are always a good number of newcomers who show up, not realizing that a trail race means roots, rocks, and hills — very different from the treadmill! But it’s a good time and costs $20 and they let us download the photos for free. Gotta love the TARC. I finished in 2 hours 10 minutes — 10th girl out of 41.

Posted in Existence.

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