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Fun for Friday - Post Race Brain

I feel like everyone is saying this, but wow, how on earth is it November already? Didn't we just have the 4th of July? Weren't we just lounging in pools? There's definitely no lounging in our pool now, though, with recent highs in the upper 70s, I suppose it would almost be plausible.

At the beginning of the week, it felt more like September. We were running in tanks and shorts. Today, it was 48 at the start and 46 when I got back to the house. Frozen fingers. I suppose it actually felt like November today. Just in time right?

I do know that I'm super excited about the time change. It'll be nice to see sunrises while running again, as well as to see the ground. I used to dread the time change because it meant dark at 5 pm. But, now that I run, I've changed my mind.

Speaking of minds, I'll stop rambling now and get right on to Fun for Friday. This will be a post-race edition. I have mentioned many times that I don't really enjoy racing. I love to run. I run for fun. Racing makes me crazy and competitive. Trust me, I'm crazy enough without having racing thoughts whipping around my brain.

So, while I don't love to race, something happens after a race. I go through a huge post-race withdrawal week (or month). And it's not like I'm craving the structure of a training plan, because I don't really stick to one specific for racing. And of course I re-hash the race, especially when I see those darn race pictures.

After a race, my brain goes a little like this:

Hmmm, what races are coming up. There's a flat half on November 23, a 10K November 23, another flat half on December 14. It'll be cold.

Re-checking race calendars daily. I already know what races are out there by the way. Oh man Pensacola is still on my bucket list. Hmm, can I convince someone to drive 8 hours there with me?

Oh yay - finally they pictures posted! Oh ugh. The pictures.

Mile 3-ish, looking focussed, but what is up with my thumb sticking out.


I never can look happy crossing the finish line. I swear I was smiling from ear to ear especially when I saw the time and knew that I had started 1+ minutes before coral A. It was just donning on me that I had hit a sub 1:40.

That race was tough. Gotta remember that. Do I want to do that again so soon? I think I have race-day amnesia.

Hmmm, maybe if I pick a super flat race I'll PR again.

What if I never PR again? Oh, it'll be ok. I'll be ok with any time I get now. Liar.

If I ran a hilly course ... what could I do on a flat one. Stop it. It'll still be hard. Racing is hard.

Do I want to run a half days after my birthday? That's just crazy. And it'll be cold. But it could be fun. Right? Fun ...

Will Jason want to run another one too? Maybe I could convince him to sign up for both of the upcoming race. Or, there is one in Baton Rouge in January. We could do that for "fun."

Oh wait, how much do all of these races cost?

Ok, your turn ... what is your post-race or post-competition brain like? 



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