Experimental Design

Training for a marathon is an experiment of one.

We train, we try, we reject, we try again...  Each marathon is it's own experiment, and each one has more variables than can possibly be anticipated or controlled.

For my training for Suntrust Richmond Marathon I did everything "right".

I practiced in the outfit, I carefully timed the purchase and miles in The Race Shoes.  I tasted the race day "nutrition", ate the Tums, did dress rehearsals for The Show, I lined up my supporting cast, I wrote my academy award speech... and none of that mattered because as we are all sick to death of hearing ~ I was sick.

So the week before Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon I realized I was not conducting my experiment in the same rational meaningful way.

I didn't have a pair of shoes with the right number of miles on them!
I did NOT have a shirt that was the right weight.

New shirt, New Shoes, New Experiment.

I had NOT practiced my nutrition strategy since early November.
I didn't even know what I was going to eat before the race, and had no idea what I wanted to do if the weather was too cold, windy, rainy to wear my "go to socks/skirt".

I bought new shoes with 8 days till RBm.  I had no choice, right?  Well, not only were they new and untried, I ended up a new style entirely.  ~gasp~  I loved them so much that I went for it.  It worked out.  Lucky me.  Don't try this at home.

I cut the tags off a new Turtle neck on race morning.  Seriously a gamble.  Of course, I did have Pixie coat my entire back in body glide... it was cozy.

My pre-race meal was something I struggled with...  I made it up on the fly....

I accidentally bought the wrong flavor of Honey Stingers.  So, I ate something I had never eaten before during the race.  It was just what it was.  Fortunately Honey Stingers are light in flavor so I didn't vom.  Probably a lucky break to be honest, given how sensitive my stomach is....

And still, with all these unknowns, my day turned out well for me.  It wasn't perfect, but then, these things never are....

I learned so much in Rehoboth Beach Marathon.  I'm still processing it all.  But I think one of my take away lessons is to relax a little, stop trying to control every single little detail.  Life isn't meant to be managed at that level.

~savor the run~