Are You Ready to Rumble?

My next three weeks look like this:

- Nike Human Race 10K
- Chips and Salsa half-marathon
- Patriot Sprint Triathlon

I guess that means it's taper time (of sorts). Already? Yikes. And along with that I begin to question whether or not I'm ready for each or any of them.

In some ways I don't feel prepared for chips-n-salsa, so I decided to look back at my long run two weeks out from the Unser half marathon this past spring. That long run was 11 miles in 02:21:05, a pace of 12:50 employing a 9:1 run/walk. Today, two weeks out from chips-n-salsa, I ran 10 miles in 01:57:19, a pace of 11:44 employing a full run. I did end up with two short walk breaks (miles 4 and 6) due to back issues. I actually wasn't sure I could run this morning because I was having back spasms yesterday, but I made it to the end, and feel pretty good right now.

Anyway, just looking at the numbers, I'd have to say that I must be ready for chips-n-salsa especially since it isn't my A race. In general, I just want to put the miles on my legs and finish feeling good. Duke City (in October) is the one that I'm really focussed on for a PR.

Next, I wonder if I'm ready for the 10K next weekend. Admittedly, I'd really like to come in under an hour for a 10K some day, but I don't think this is going to be the race for that to happen. I want to have fun and injury free. With that kind of laid-back goal, I must be ready.

Then there's the whole question of the Patriot Sprint Tri. As much as I didn't train for Socorro, imagine even less triathlon training for this one. I didn't swim or bike once this week. So am I ready? Well, I'm fairly confident I can finish. I just need to keep my mind in a place where I'm okay with a goal of having fun so I don't beat myself up afterwards for being slow.


Recent workouts:
Thu - core+ 3.5 mi tempo run
Fri - REST
Sat - 10 mi easy run


Different subject - two comments regarding my last post:

1 - How exactly does one lock keys in a scooter? I locked my keys in the scoot by inadvertently putting them along wth my gloves inside my helmet and under the seat. I'll post a photo of the under seat storage sometime. Anyway, the only way to unlock the seat is with the keys in the ignition. From now on, I will make sure the keys are still in the ignition before I close and lock the seat.

2 - Why is it so hard to catch the bus? There is a lot of construction going on at the high school right now and depending on where you are in teh school you may or may not hear the last bell. Plus there is construction to dodge. On Wednesday, the teacher from her last period kept the whole class a little late due to not hearing the bell. Unfortunately, her bus is near the front of the bus line (a good half mile+ hike) which means no dawdling. With the class getting out late, she had to run and still didn't make it. She had to wait longer than she would have liked, I think she'll try harder to catch the bus in the future.