Boulder Road Runners

"I'll teach me", is the phrase that comes to mind :)

I was upset enough about what I felt was a poor performance in the mile on Sunday, that instead of awarding myself ice cream and the rest of the day off, I took myself out for a punishment run. Abby and a friend visiting us from England were doing some of the Boulder 360, which is a 20-mile (or so) "citizens" bike ride on some gorgeous trails round the city. My original plan was to ride with them; I decided to run.

With Kyle hovering so close to the 5-minute mile mark and me nowhere near it, I figured a sacrifice to the Gods of running was necessary.

So I donned my ceremonial robes (new blue Nike vest, yellow Nike Mayfly shoes that weigh less than pair of socks), successfully negotiated the opening ritual (three cups of tea, two miles steady, then dynamic warm-up followed by strides)...

I only ask because tonight I raced straight off the sofa -- and didn't do too badly.

Over the last few days I've been engaged in an ongoing "workshop" about the mental/emotional and yes spiritual blocks to running fast -- the head stuff. It's challenging, exhausting work digging out the roots of my current "fear of discomfort". Yesterday's one-on-one session with coach Bobby McGee was a corker. And my wife Abby gets to run the follow-up. Heh heh. Good job she is a therapist, what?

"Oh, no pressure then!" was my comment as I spotted Sir Coach Bobby McGee AND assistant Marci walking through the gates of the Potts Field track last night.

Here am I trying to do this low-key event and now I know I will be under scrutiny. Oh, I am so ungrateful sometimes! These two never put their athletes under pressure -- it is all self-generated.