Virtual "Race" 1: Goals Met, Goals Missed

Spring Clean Virtual Run Swag: Kind of neat to get some things from
YellowJacket Racing closet, including one from a race a
placed first in my age group last year and another haven't tried in a few years.

Weather: Partly Cloudy, but clearing; 40°F (Real Feel 33°F), Wind SSW @ 13 mph at 6:45 a.m.
Route: Rochester City Hall to Greece Public Library and about half way back; 1st goal was 13.1 miles (half marathon) for Virtual race, 2nd Goal was completion of 20 mile round trip loop.

Pre-Run Ruminations: Many months ago I signed up to participate in the Flower City Half Marathon this morning. COVID-19 changed that, resulting in both the race being moved to autumn and my being much more prepared to run than I might otherwise have been. Without the quarantine, and the time it has afforded me during the work week to get out, I would be much less prepared to make an attempt at a personal best. Over the past five weeks, I have been slowly building the distance of my weekly long slow distance run (as well as the quick and moderately paced other key runs, too). With no Flower City to "compete"in today, I registered for YellowJacket Racing's Spring Clean Virtual Race which is just what it sounds like, you "pick a distance to walk/run, on your time, at a course/location of your choosing!" I've elected to register for the half marathon option, with hopes of going a little further.

My original goal had been to run yesterday, Saturday, but feeling under the weather and tired all day Friday, I shifted that planned run to the following day. A had a few goals: first, to complete the 13.1 mile virtual run. The second, more ambitious goal is to complete a 20 mile loop from "home" to the school I teach at, Greece Athena High. The true starting point is to be Rochester City Hall, about 2 miles from my house to Greece Town Hall, approximately 1.5 miles from the school campus. This will also bring me to another public library I frequent, the Greece Public Library. With excellent running weather in the forecast, it looked to be a good run.

Starting out from Rochester City Hall parking lot at 6:30 a.m. (4/19/20)

Heading down North Plymouth between what used to be Kodak office. (4/19/20)

Lyell Avenue, like most city streets at this time of morning even before
COVID-19, is deserted save a few bicyclists and me. (4/19/20)

Edgerton Park at the corner of Dewey Avenue and Bloss Street; another of
Rochester's tremendous city parks. (4/19/20)

Back onto Dewey Avenue after a slight shift to the right at Driving Park. Here,
 I am back on much more frequently traveled roads. The course from
here to Greece Athena is the same as I would bicycle "back-in-the-day". (4/19/20)

About a two-mile chunk of Ridge Road between Dewey Avenue and
the bicycle trail that takes me along 390 Expressway. (4/19/20)

I-390 Bike Trail between Ridge Road and Maiden Lane. (4/19/20)

I-390 Bike Trail between Maiden Lane and Vintage Lane. (4/19/20)

Off the I-390 Bike path and onto Fetzner Road past Basil Marella Park. Basil, as it
is commonly referred to, is where we hold most cross-country practices. It is also
our "home" course where we frequently host meets. (4/19/20)

After a short run through suburban neighborhood just off English Road. I reach
 the access path off Pearson Lane into the Greece Athena Campus. (4/19/20)

Checking in with school's free library. Plenty of good reading for those
students who wander by! (4/19/20)

First time back in 5+ weeks. Even during summer I drop by every few
weeks to pick up books. Certainly sad to see the mighty Greece Athena in
time of COVID-19. (4/19/20)

About a mile-and-a half past Athena on Long Pond Road, following a short left
down Vince Tofany Blvd. is the Greece Public Library. Another of our fantastic
Monroe County Library System, Greece Library has an excellent selection of
books and media as well as some pretty cool Athena students working there,
too. (4/19/20)

Really hadn't given it much thought but it seems the overwhelming majority of the
route back to Rochester is uphill... good to know for future long runs. (4/19/20)

Picked up another Catholic church for my running collection: Our Mother of
Sorrows, 5000 Mount Read Blvd. I  beautiful church with pleasant parish a
number of my Athena students are a part of. (4/19/20)

Post-Run Reflection: The map at the top of the post ameliorates any excitement you may have had if you guessed I completed the 20 mile loop. I often try to work with my competitive high school student-athletes from the perspective that even losses can reveal valuable information for the next race. I also choose to do the same with my own running. As noted on the map, I petered out/quit/DNF'd at mile 15. Despite feeling strong and capable coming down Latta Road toward mile 13, I just sort of 'wore down" in the miles after. Felt well hydrated, maintained effective form, and breathing was strong, but I my confidence wavered slightly and it was a run "killer". In the end, I am letting my inability to meet this secondary goal (I did finish the half-marathon distance), but am taking it as an opportunity to re-double my efforts to strengthen my mindset when spending 2-3 hours in my head on long runs. It would be foolish for any of us to allow one (or two or three...) slight miscues to derail long term goals. So here's the plan: return to some previously effect techniques from  my bag of training "tricks", and spend some effort looking for some new ones. The beautiful thing about this sport is that there is always another day to lace up the shoes and head out on the streets...