To race or not to race...Self-centered insecure question.

I'll take door #3.  Race but relax and have fun.

X2. If you do well (and you will!) great. If not then you had a great time at a local race where you knew a lot of people.

Of cours, I'm one who can't pass up a local race...

nm



Edited by newleaf 2009-08-16 10:41 AM

I'd say do the race.

1) Steelhead was obviously a very big deal to you. It is on your sig line, its on your logs in several places. It was a big goal for you and once you meet it, it is very natural to have a bit of a let down and hard to "get into" training again.

2) After doing a large HIM with a very competitive field, doing a local sprint race will feel very easy.

3) If you have trained several months for a HIM, your fitness is certainly still there. Since you have about 3 weeks between races you body should be feeling good again and your perfromance should be there.

4) Nothing beats the experience of racing. Certain things you just can't simulate in training and I certainly find I learn alot of things by trying them out in races. Even if things don't play out perfectly, the experience is worth the cost.

5) I have found that many times when I have gone into a race where I had a built in excuss like having done a marathon two weeks prior, or having done a HIM the week before, I had no pressure on myself and just let the race happen. A number of times that has resulted in outstanding perfromances. My HIM PR was 13 days after the Boston Marathon, and my half marathon PR was the week after a HIM. All the training and fitness you buit up for Steelman will still be there especially for a shorter, less difficult race.

5) Why are you letting yourself be intimidated just because you know alot of the people at this race?

(x3) - I would race for the fun of racing with friends

In my line of work, I can't always guarantee that I'll train all the hours I want in a week, or that I'll actually be well-rested, or that I'll keep a good diet going, but having race day out there as a goal and just doing the best you can while accepting that life doesn't always give you the chance to bring your "A" game on race day is a valuable thing.

If you can come strong, great. If not, have some fun and beat the 99% of people who never show up.

x4 As long as it is in your budget, why not race. It will motivate you to train and will probably be fun.

If the locals you know at the race are jerks, it will give you a chance to meet some new locals!

Do what you enjoy, and stop worrying about what other people think. Trust me, no one cares. I mean, they CARE...but they all have their own races to worry about. Not every race in life has to be an A race. Some races, some months, heck some SEASONS it's okay to just go do stuff for the sake of having fun and being active.

Race. Have fun. Don't worry about your ranking. Your Steelhead training will carry you through. Winter will be here soon enough. Get one last race in.

Do the race. Your fitness from the HIM will carry you through. Besides, it will give all those people that know you an opportunity to congratulate you on your awesome race at Steelhead if they haven't already.

Maybe an option #4. If there is a person you know that is not as strong as you in the event, try and race with them to help them achieve a PR. Good way for you to "race" and have fun, while helping a friend do their best.