Weeeeeee! All the way down the hill.

I'm still waiting to hear from the restaurant about the total amount raised from the "A Night to Be A HERO" benefit. Once I find out, I'll be sure to share it here!  Tomorrow morning I'll be running a 10K. I haven't run a 10K since June of 2011, it's been a while. I don't necessarily feel nervous, but I do feel uncertain. Uncertain about pacing, uncertain about a goal finish time. Uncertain about my ability to translate my new speed to a longer distance.

This uncertainty is partly due to the fact that I haven't really raced this distance in 2 years and also due to the fact that it is hilly. I've learned to "embrace the hill," but that doesn't make them any easier--especially in a race.

Race elevation chart.

I felt really confident and certain going into my last 5K, I knew that I was capable (even though I was sick) of running a really strong race. This time I don't feel that same certainty.

I know that a strong 10K time, something in the 42-43 range will be a good predictor of a 1:35 finish in the half in a MONTH!! Seriously, the CHaD Hero Half is a month from TODAY! That's what I'd like a strong boost of confidence going into the half, a longer race (than a 5K) that tells me I'm on the right track.

I have a history of my 5K times not necessarily translating to the longer distance. BUT...that was back before I did tempo work. Now that I'm doing tempo runs I'm feeling a little more capable at the longer distances, but this race will really be the first test of that...and for that reason I'm a little uncertain.

I know that today in order to do well I have to get my mind out of that "uncertain" place into a place of confidence. So today I'll focus on my solid training days (like my last two tempo runs), I'll think about my strong hilly runs at Hood to Coast and repeat the mantra "She believed she could so she did."

I'll also think about what Sophia said to me yesterday as we drove the course: "Mom, I like to say 'weeeeeeee' when we drive down the hills. Maybe you could do that in your race on Saturday when you go down the hill? You could say 'weeeeeeeee'."

That's probably exactly what I need to do: throw my hands up HTC-power-bridge style and just yell at the top of my lungs "Weeeeeeeee!!" all the way down the hill.

--Sarah