Rock & Sole 10K 2012 Race Goals

I can hardly believe it.  In less than 36 hours from now I should be done with the race I had in mind when I started this blog.  I haven't actually counted, but I know I have run over 100 miles, fought my way through injuries, and followed through on my training to reach this point.

I'm ready.

I've never run a race over 5K.  I have no idea what the uphill running on a bridge is going to be like.  All I know is Saturday is going to be awesome!

Alright, I've thought long and hard about it and here are my goals for Saturday.

• Just finish. 
• I just need to cross the finish line and I will set a personal best of the distance.
• Be proud of myself.
• I set a tough goal, I've worked hard, and I've done something not everyone can do.
• Finish in 1:12:00
• I've thought long and hard about if I wanted to list to time goals, and I finally decided that I do.  this would be about an 11 minute mile pace.  I know I can run this, even dealing with the uphill on the bridge.
• Finish under 1:02:15
• This is a little crazy.  I normally run my long runs at a 10 minute/mile pace and this is a 9:30 minute/mile pace.  The key is going to be reaching the top of the bridge on this pace.  If I can do that, I have two downhills to recover and only one uphill to deal with before I hit the last mile that is mostly flat.  

That first uphill to reach the top of the top of the bridge is what I am fixated on.  I just feel like if I can do that, the rest is going to be easy by comparison.  I've put in the time and training, I've done everything I need to do to be ready.  Now I just need to go out there and do it.