On Sunday, I will be running the Crawlin Crab Half Marathon. It’s been a while since I’ve raced. A lot has happened since I ran the Country Music Half Marathon back in April. I’ve spent majority of the summer injured. I’ve been working with my running coach. I’ve been getting stronger and faster. While training has been focused on the Richmond Marathon in November, this run will be a great test of the growth I’ve made this year. There is no official taper for Sunday, but my weekly running schedule is designed to have fresh legs Sunday morning.
As of this morning, I’ve decide I’m not running to see X:XX on the race clock. I’m running for a feeling. My goals aren’t attached to a pace or finish time. I’m chasing down strength, determination, and passion. I’m running to dig deep (don’t know the history of my love-hate relationship with this phrase, read about it here). I want my husband to yell “move your ass” as I pass him along the course. When I cross the finish line, I want to feel exhausted and alive at the exact same time. This race is about chasing down a dream. This race is about putting myself closer to that really big dream of mine.
After a great speed work out and even better conversation with my coach yesterday, I’m heading into race day feeling confident. I’m nervous, excited, and ready to see what I can do on a half-marathon course. The adrenaline is pumping. It’s a mental battle at this point for me. Physically I know I have it in me to finish strong. My race goals aren’t like the race goals I’ve made in the past. Instead they are about that feeling I’m chasing.
- Run with a light heart
- Run with clear mind
- Run with the strength in my body
- Be Brave
- Be Strong
- Fight for the finish
- Run in the present
My favorite take away from working with my coach so far is simple: Do not evaluate the race while racing. I’m guilty of this on every long run. At mile 8, I’ll be exhausted. I’ll analyze the run and determine if it was successful before finishing. I have to turn this part of my brain off on Sunday. I won’t be looking at my garmin. I have also seen this work every single time I do speed work with my coach. After the first few sets of speed, I think to myself that there is no way I will finish. I finish every single time because I just keep moving forward. Mile 3 does not determine mile 12. I want to run every step in that moment.
I may be more excited for this race than any of my races so far, or maybe it’s just been too long since I’ve raced. My best friend and her husband are flying in from Nashville tomorrow to join me on this race course. It’s going to be a fabulous weekend, and an even better run!
I absolutely love Race Day Magic!
Good luck to everyone running! Lots of familiar faces will be on the course this weekend. All my J&A Ambassdor teammates, teammates who also work with my coach, and some of my favorite bloggers (BeachyRunner, ReadingRunnerGirl, KrisLawrence, thefitpetite). See y’all at the finish line!
Want to stalk me on race day:
My bib # is 671. You can track me here.
Or you can follow me on facebook or instagram.
Kristy Maute 
Thanks for the luck 🙂 Sending lots your way as well!!!
Looks like you had a great race! I hope your feeling good today with no nagging injuries!
Nope, the ankle felt fine the entire race and still feels good as of today. My legs are sore, but that’s understandable… they probably hate me for depriving them for so long and then putting them through that so abruptly. It wasn’t the PR I was planning for before the injury. But I was pleasantly surprised to only come in less than 10 minutes behind my previous half. I’ll definitely take it. The heat was kind of awful.
Good luck to you too! This will be my first half so I am nervous/excited!
I hope you had a great race. Weather was brutal for race day, so I hope you finished feeling proud!!!
Thank you! I had a great time! Was not expecting it to be that hot though! Can’t wait to do another one! Jackie
Good luck. As I have constantly said, certainly a race on my bucket list. I look forward to meeting perhaps at the Wicked 10k!
It really is a great race, just a HOT one this year! I’ll track you down at Wicked. It will be great to meet!