Good Days and Bad Days

Writing in Running Journal several years ago, Marshall Ellis said, “I learned that there is no easy way, and I learned that no matter how hard you train, on race day you’re either going to have a good day or a bad day, and there’s not much you can do about it.”   

I have decided - after 145 races, including 17 marathons - that this is true.  And I hate to admit it, because by nature most of us believe that training is essential to success.  True enough - one cannot hope to run a marathon without training with dedication - but there is also this concept of Good Days and Bad Days.  On bad days, it feels like we are wearing ankle weights and there is absolutely no cushioning left in our shoes.  On good days, we can run like the wind.  It took me a long time to come to understand this!  And not only is it true for races, it is also true for training runs.  How else can I explain that I had so much difficulty finishing a planned eight-mile run on Friday morning that I cut it short a mile, while my 15-mile run Saturday morning went just fine?  The only explanation (rest, nutrition, sleep all being equivalent) is that Saturday was a Good Day!

According to the Richmond Marathon website, starting time on November 10 is 26 days, 19 hours, 28 minutes from this moment.  I will accept any day that comes along, but I will hope for a Good Day.