Go Into a Race Ready to Do Something

Never Go into a Race Thinking About What You’re Going to Do, Go into a Race Ready to Do Something 

And that was exactly my plan last weekend at Half Ironman Cambridge. Some of it worked, and some of it didn’t, in my eyes of course. But in the scheme of things, 6^th in my age group out of 80 or so is OK for my second Half Ironman. My point is, have your plan in your head and go for it, whether it works out or not. It took me 8 marathons to run my fastest, I quit my first marathon at mile 18, and I couldn’t move for days after that, why? I had no plan, I had no idea what I was doing, I just thought, “I’m young, I’m a runner, let’s do this”. Wroooooong. As I emerge from being a baby triathlete (but still a kid), I am learning so much about the sport, about me, and it feels good again to plan for success - whatever my definition of success may be. So always plan, but never plan for it to be your last race, or last workout, or last attempt to better yourself every day, as an athlete. Take your time, because your last race is never. What’s the saying, “your destination is not the thrill, the journey getting there is”. Whether it’s your 1^st 5K, your 2^ndHalf Marathon, your 5^th Marathon, or your 12^th Ironman, enjoy the journey. Enjoy the time it takes to figure out the distance, your heart, and your desire. Oh, and by the way, I don’t think you ever figure it out, and that is what makes us all athletes.

 Robert Espinoza
"Keep Your Chin Up for Strength, and Down For Prayer"
Fleet Feet Sports Savannah