The Uncomfortable Zone
I recently read a blog post / race report written by a very competitive runner, running a 10 mile trail run on New Years Day. I especially liked his perspective on the uncomfortable zone we enter when we race.
So I knew I would be entering the uncomfortable zone – that time when the mind and body are raising the caution flag and there’s one guy in the corner of my head insisting on keeping his foot on the gas pedal. And these moments of truth are why I enjoy running a race. There’s no sweet talking through a race. There’s no telling how much better you could have done. There’s no selling yourself a faster time than what you are truly capable of running. The truth is if you want to win, you’d better be ready to be the fastest one out there and when it hurts you have to look that hurt in the eye and, with a smile, ask for some more. When you cross that finish line and see the time, good or bad, first or last, that is the moment of truth. And today, a couple others were faster. Oh the run will not suffer the fool. But another truth is that I finished and finishing any race, just being able to be outside and run in these mountains, is a good thing. Michael Cook
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