I’ve been running for 12 years at this point. If you spoke with 37 year old Eric and told him that at 49 he would have run 17 marathons, 44 13.1s and thousands and thousands of miles in other races and training . . . I would have told you that you were completely bonkers.
But here I am, and this is my truth. I am an athlete. And one of the things I’ve been focused on for the longest time as an athlete is how fast I get from point A to point B.
When I was primarily a cyclist, it was a goal to ride the 147 mile Montauk Century (I know, misnamed) at the fastest pace possible.* And when I started running, BQ’ing became the goal.
And, well, it still is the ultimate goal if I were to be completely honest here (which I try to be). But I’ve spent the last two years or so injured and my immediate priorities have changed.
Again, to be honest, it’s not just about the injuries. My priorities these days also include a beautiful wife and a 3-and-a-half-foot tall domestic terrorist whom I don’t think I could love any more if I tried. And they takes up more time and headspace than I ever anticipated.
But to get to the point, my current goal is to have fun and enjoy the run.
This being the week of the NYC Half Marathon, I would usually post my race strategy. You know, my goal time, when I would be powering through and running at threshold, or kicking it at tempo pace.
But nope. Not this year. This year, this race, this run is all about the run. I’m running slower and smarter than I’ve ever run before.
And you know what? I’m having fun. Speed work will commence when I’m good and ready (and healthy for it). But for now, I’ll just be out there plodding along.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
My Current Running Gear
Garmin Fenix 5X Plus: https://amzn.to/2BJdMmX
Oakley Flak Jacket: https://amzn.to/2JepwwC
ASICS Gel Cumulus 20 (women): https://amzn.to/2qRLwpm
ASICS Gel Cumulus 20 (men): https://amzn.to/2HT2E6p
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
*Just for the record, I did it at 18.5 MPH average 🙂
