The next race for Old G is the second oldest footrace in the country behind the Boston Marathon - the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving in Manchester, CT. The last time I raced this one, the Manchester Road Race took the Man right out of me. So I am going to run this one with purpose and intent, try as hard as I can to be up with the leaders, and hopefully win the thing. That's right - win the thing. This would be the exact way I used to be when I raced every single race in high school, and even my first year of college. Way before any sort of restrictions were put on anything, and when I didn't give a rat's ass who I was competing against. A simpler time when I just wanted to be the best, and finishing time mattered very little.
This type of mindset went by the wayside the last few years. I had been brainwashed by science, and put limits on myself and worried too much about little things, and spent way too much energy worrying about making sure everything was in place and nothing was left to chance. When in reality, I HAVE ALWAYS run best when I don't think about anything, and just go out there and give it everything I possibly can on that single day. When I take risks, when I live in the moment, when I don't worry about the end result. Who doesn't run their best when this happens?
Jason Lehmkuhle proves this to me time and time again. He has been injured on and off so many times that he probably expects it to happen during each build-up. But when the guy races, 9 times out of 10, it is just a phenomenal performance, and he does everything possible to put himself in a position to get the most out of himself. And he doesn't worry about the training he has done, or if he feels like crap in workouts. Why? Because it doesn't matter. Ask him what his training looked like 2 or 3 weeks out from the NYC marathon. Can you say stairclimber and 12 oz curls using Diet Pepsi cans? I sure can. I am totally taking a page out...
It's that time of year to really start pushing the envelope. You realize this when people running around Harriet enthusiastically (way too enthusiastically actually) yell 'JIIIIIIMMMM' at you. I will say I have had about 5 weeks or so of solid mileage, fantastic work, and have done long sustained runs nearly better than I ever have. I am, aerobically, fairly fit. My wheels are there - I recently ran 12.67 for a 100m stride. Probably could have ran 10.9 if the 15 mph wind hadn't been pushing me so much, thus messing up my stride. Seriously though, Manchester will be a major test for me...watch out for 1992-1996/7 Matty G. He's dangerous.
I'll leave you with one of the most beautiful songs I've probably ever heard, just a fabulous cover here:
loved this post!!! run it reckless bro!
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