Emerald City Half Recap

 Going into unknown territory with nothing more than your bones, muscles and a desire to succeed can be extremely overwhelming at times. Not knowing what to expect around the corner, or what problem may be thrown your way send most people into their programmed state of fight or flight.

Having confidence in your ability to handle and approach situations like these is pretty much what racing is like. As distance runners we all know that at some point that fun and enjoyment we get out of hearing the crack of a starting pistil will subside. and the reality of the situation will soon begin to take weigh in on us. Quickly, we begin to make equations in our head calculating energy vs. distance hoping that we can get the most out of our $0.02. It is at that point where often times we are defined. We must come face to face with our demons, and go to war with lactate.

Being okay with being uncomfortable is pretty much exactly what you wish to accomplish in marathon training. Preparation. Did I eat right all those nights? How much do I weigh? I should’ve taken it easier this week. I should’ve ran more miles last month. All of these thoughts begin to race through your head, but knowing there is a choice early on and preparing for war can give you a tremendous opportunity to find out your true potential on race day.

The battle within turns into a head game with your biggest enemies, and the only thing you can do is hope you’ve built that Orb to handle these uncomfortable and often painful situations. With increased fitness and a strong mindset, by God you can take on the world! Or at least that's what you think.

Emerald city was a great way to find confidence in my ability to be uncomfortable. Luckily, I had two of my friends Breydon Gates and Jeremy Anderson there to help me along the way. From the gun, Jeremy ran side-by-side with me helping me quickly get into a good rhythm. Clicking off mid 5:30’s and enjoying the Dublin countryside I was surprised by how "enjoyable" this was. Breydon met us at mile 9, and helped me cut down the pace for the last 4 miles. By then the legs started to get heavier and heavier, but found that I could override this feeling simply by not thinking much about it.

The last two miles I had a mix of feelings. I couldn’t help but think about how in just 7 weeks, I will be expected to double the distance I’m racing today. But I also thought about how good it was to get back on the roads, and be able to win these small battles within myself. How breaking a tape and crossing the line in first is something I haven’t felt in a very long time, and how in the grand scheme of things, maybe I’m doing okay for myself.

I had a mix of emotions, but all in all it was a great experience put on by M3S Sports and Ohio Health Network. Dublin is a beautiful place to race, and I’m happy I was able to run a new PR and win the Emerald City Half Marathon. Here’s to a healthy and bountiful 7 weeks of training before taking on the great battle the Columbus Marathon.

- BJW