Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
-Five Man Electrical Band
More dangerous than texting and driving is the irresistible
compulsion to look for signs of race readiness as the big day approaches. I have done it and I am sure you have
too. Regardless of how many miles and
quality sessions you have compiled over the preceding months we want a sign
from our bodies and the ghosts of Lydiard and Bowerman, if not God himself that
we are fit and ready for something great.
Can we not all learn from Icarus? If you recall the story he ignored his father’s
warning not to fly too close to the sun with his wings of feathers and
wax. The headiness of being able to fly
was too great a temptation to stay low and escape captivity on Crete. We do the same thing. When we are fit and race sharp and ready to “strike
fear into the hearts of mediocre talent everywhere,” it is a very difficult
thing not to show off, not for anyone else, necessarily, but to ourselves. Confidence can be a very fleeting thing for a
runner. After a good day it soars and
after a bad day all is lost and we might as well take up lawn darts.
Frank Shorter says there are two kinds of workouts. Those that make us fit and those that
demonstrate fitness. If these get out of
balance we are likely to become the fittest spectator on the course. This is about as happy of a place to be as
Crete being guarded by Minotaur. Just
because a “goal pace” run at 20 seconds a mile faster than you can dream of
running will look awesome in your training log does not mean it is a good
idea. Now is the time to clearly
understand the workout purpose and stick to it.
Let your coach tell you how lean and mean you are and how sure you are
to blow away any PR you possess than melt your wax too close to race day
looking for a sign..