I’ve posted already about my success in last weekend’s Rock n Roll DC Half-Marathon. What I haven’t written about is how, one week out, the finish of that race still motivates me to get faster. I decided to give it a week to see if I was still worked up about it. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me, but I am.
How can I possibly be annoyed after smashing my PB and running a Boston Qualifying time (albeit at the Half)? Here’s why: (@marathonfoto). (that’s my knee behind him)
[Quick side note: I’ve had some great in-race photos taken by the good folks at Marathonfoto. I think it’s a great service they provide and I’m glad that race directors have thought of inviting them out to capture the events. That being said, their prices are obscene. I completely agree with Ray Maker’s synopsis here on his DCrainmaker blog. If there’s ever a race picture of me worthy of $30 or more, my assumption is that it’s in newspapers free of charge because I’ll have either broken some kind of record or committed some kind of crime along the way.]
Yes, despite running a 1:37, what irks me is that I was beat to the line by a hot dog. A guy in a hot dog costume beat me to the finish. Now, sure, my ‘net’ time was two minutes faster than his. I’m sure he’s a lovely bloke. I applaud him running the full distance in a costume–love those folks! I didn’t even mind people yelling “go hot dog” for the last four miles (and I initially didn’t know why people were yelling that at me…hot dog costumes don’t look like much from behind).
What bothers me is that I realized, somewhere toward the end, that he was, in fact, dressed like a hot dog, and, knowing that, I still couldn’t catch him at the line.
I can’t get it out of my head. I even tried having a hot dog for dinner and it didn’t help. It’s not happening again. Hot dog…you’re on notice. I’m gunning for you. If I see you at the CoDel Marathon, you’re going down. I’m running even more miles in training. I’m picking up my pace. I’m sprinting the end of my workouts. All in a quest to catch the hot dog. Is it sane and rational, no. Not in the least.
We all need to find motivation somewhere. After 80 days of consecutive workouts (don’t break the chain!), there are days (many of them) when I get up and just don’t feel like lacing up the trainers and hitting the road. It’s cold (still!), it’s dark (still!) and I’m tired. That darn hot dog has kept me going this week. So in many ways, I’m grateful mr. hot dog.
But that won’t stop me from pushing myself harder and beating you to the line if we ever cross again…maybe dressed like this.