Tantek’s Thoughts 2015-3

https://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e15/11380796_449488105212580_1860535373_n.jpg https://instagram.com/p/4IqhR6A9Ze #yxyy003 #unbagging after the fact and reflecting One week ago I arrived at my third #yxyy. From the very beginning, checking in at the Ace, I faced decisions that had rational choices and instinctual choices. I trusted my instinct and used empathy & reason to guide the details. This year was different in many ways. Instead of room sharing, I got my own room. I knew fewer people going, so I ended up reaching out more and getting to know more people. Instead of escaping with people I knew, I jumped into the first night's activities. Instead of conserving my drink tickets, I used them all the first night. Instead of worrying if the people I were with were having a good time, I chose to have a good time and listen to those around me, what they were saying and otherwise expressing, rather than worrying. Instead of organizing more than one thing, I organized just one thing ahead of time. Everything else was spontaneous or word of mouth or both. When I was asked to take time out of the pool and do an interview I said yes. Instead of signing up myself in advance, I spontaneously reached out to a friend to volunteer together, side-by-side, at the Advice Booth. Instead of worrying about going to bed in time to run the next morning, I said yes to staying up late deep in conversations until the pool closed and then dared to set an alarm for 90 minutes later, to run before sunrise, trusting my future self to decide when the time came. Instead of hesitating I told people when I appreciated meeting them and would love to chat more. Instead of skipping yoga, I went both Saturday and Sunday mornings. When asked spontaneously to lead & instruct my fellow yoga class attendees how to step-by-step get into an arm balance, I said yes. When asked to join in sharing a floating pretzel pool toy that could only fit two, I said yes. Thank you @amylola @debs @hillary @sanfranannie @willolovesyou for everything you do and say. Thank you especially for listening, sympathizing, reflecting what needed to be said, and most of all, being encouraging.

ran #baytobreakers in 1:17:53. ~3 minutes slower than last year. #b2b #b2b104 #noinjuries #noexcuses More: Transited by bus halfway with a couple of @nov_project_lax friends and then we did a ~2 mile warmup jog before the race to the corral entrances, stretched in the corral, and then bounced to stay warm with fellow @nov_project_sf runners. We started the race on time near the front of Corral A, can’t say anyone got in my way, people in general were faster than me. I kept pace with my friend @leahculver for the first mile which was my fastest of the whole race. Despite feeling prepared, I felt like I was dragging and heavy for the whole race. Even the downhills didn’t feel as speedy as I’m used to. I tried not to let those feelings get to me and pushed on regardless. Still, I could tell by mile 4 that I wasn’t making the time I wanted to, and wasn't sure I would even be able to beat my last year PR (personal record). I thought to myself regardless of any doubts, I owed it to myself to give it my all, so that I could at least finish knowing that I did, regardless of whether I PR'd or not. So I did, and I still fell short of my goal(s) for the day (except I did finish free of injury at least). I’m not going to make any excuses, yet I have to admit, after consistently making progress the previous four years, and crushing it last year, I was disappointed with my performance today. I’m going to attempt to make the most of it, by reflecting on and writing down what I did (or did not do) that I might/could/should have done differently. Despite giving it my all on raceday, that’s only part of giving it your all for the race, whether last night, yesterday, last week, or in the months of training beforehand. It’s just over two months before my next race (the second half of the San Francisco Marathon), and I’m going to consciously plan for and put whatever insights I come up with to use from tomorrow until then. Previously: tantek.com/2014/138/t1/ran-baytobreakers-faster-b2b103