Running Down The Jersey Shore

After celebrating all the fantastic finishes at the Boston Marathon (you rock, people!) and brandishing all those who ran in that race illegitimately (shame on you bandits --- from me and my readers), I guess it’s my turn to step up to the plate this weekend and participate in a longer distance race. So, more out of race envy than anything else, I’m taking a little trip and heading down to Jersey this Sunday to run in the Long Branch Half-Marathon. Since it’s a flat and fast course, so unlike what I’m used to in Central Park, I’m looking forward to starting fast, jumping ahead, blowing by the field, and finally grabbing some much sought after bling that’s been seriously lacking in my race closet. Haha. If only.

Actually, to come clean, I’m quite anxious about this race. Do not exactly know why. Training has been going well so far. Digits in my log also tells me that I’m running faster than I was at any point last year. (I think my log is lying and playing mind tricks with me, but that’s more of a DSM-IV type of discussion, which I’m not going to have here. Ask Nancy—yes, the one with a club—if you need an explanation.) So why am I so damn nervous? I guess part of it has to do with the weather. The “experts” are predicting wind and rain for much of the day on Sunday and I have zero to no experience racing in inclement weather. Another part has to do with personal expectations. Since my last half-marathon race report was titled The Best Run Ever, you can imagine the likelihood that I’ll have a repeat performance. I guess since it’s going to rain, lightning may strike twice, right? If so, should I then name this race report The Best Run Ever Ever? Finally, even though the course is supposed to be pancake flat, I’m still weary about waking up freakin’ early (5AM) to run 13.1 miles in totally unfamiliar territory. It’s Jersey for crying out loud, have you seen their drivers? Okay, I just made a subset of my fan club quite mad, but I admit it. I rarely run well outside of my hometown state. Now I guess I know how it feels to play away from home even if you are the No. 1 seed. Haha. There I go again, totally pumping myself up for a race that I’m totally intimidated by. (I really shouldn't be so blatant about my defense mechanisms—another DSM-IV discussion I shouldn’t be having here.)

So, in summary, my goals for this race will be kept fairly modest. If it doesn’t rain, I run well, slap a few spectating fans’ hands, and break 1:30, I’d be happy. If I can beat my Best Run Ever, I’d be ecstatic. And if some faster people in my age group decides to trip and fall in sequential order in front of me and I happen to end up with an age group medal, I’m sure you’ll see me in a newspaper somewhere. I’ll be the one with the dorkiest smile out of all the people wearing race bling. Hey, even a schizo runner like me can dream big. (There I go again. Really need to sign myself up for some post-race psychotherapy! Maybe THAT’s what I should do with my award money!)

Wish me luck, people! As you can see, I’ll most definitely need it.