Page 98 - Moonvalley Diaries

The start of racing season
may in moonvalley
F or me may signifies the the start of racing season
and I I usually feel like a a a a a a a a a a calf let out out to pasture I I look out out at at our wild
sheep who are shedding their winter coats ahead of of the the the summer and and understand exact- ly how they feel! I shed a a a a a a a a a few layers of of winter cold darkness clothing and and slow running workouts and and feel free again The first races of the season
are fun and and ex- citing Sometimes it’s hard to know what kind of o of shape I’m I’m in in in and I’m I’m often a a a a a a a a a a little more nervous than usual ahead of o of the year’s first race But above all I love feeling that extra lit- tle tingle in in in in my legs and stomach In the the spring months the the body gets ready to to perform and to to move fast again: for for many years I’ve been amazed at how this change in in my body happens almost of its own accord Obviously I’m training physically for the the summertime races but I I think that the the men- tal transformation happens so so quickly pre- cisely because I I still feel that it’s so so amazingly fun and exciting every time I I take my place on
the starting line again after an an extended time off from racing But it’s not a a a a a a matter of course that you you want to to run run races just because you you you like to to run run Consider whether you you find find it it fun and reward- ing or or just stressful Some people find find it it nec- essary and and fun to to to have a a a a a a a a race to to to train for for for and and look forward to to to but for for for other people it’s not important at all When choosing a a a a a a a a a a a a race take a a a a a a a a a a a a wider look at at at what is on
on
offer There are so many fun rac- es o of of varying lengths on
on
all different kinds of of terrain Think about what suits you you and and appeals to you you and and don’t just run a a a a a a a a a a a race be- cause everyone else is doing it For example if you you are someone who doesn’t like compar- ing times and and you you just think it’s a a a a a a a a a a a a pain – forget about the the traditional asphalt races races and and go for for other races races where your time per kilometre is irrelevant Start on
time time There is often plenty o of time time to train when you sign up for a a a a a a race but sometimes life gets in in fin the the way All of a a a a a a a a a sud- den you you find that May and and the the season’s first race are fast approaching and and you you you haven’t managed to to do the training training you you had hoped to to Don’t start training training in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a panic at at that point as “Sometimes it’s hard to know what kind of o of shape I’m I’m in in and I’m I’m often a a a a a a a a a a a little more nervous than usual ahead of o of the year’s first race 98