"Adaptability Day"

Running for Judy Wilson in college meant that every day was "adaptability day," the argument being that since you never know what may happen in a race, daily you must be ready for anything and be able to adapt. At times, this concept served as justification for lack of structure, but at other times I have to admit it made things more interesting (especially when we were about to miss our flights, which happened frequently). After a particularly poor showing one year at the Penn Relays, she even turned this concept into a workout. We went to the track to do a hard workout, but she wouldn't tell us what the distances or times we were to run until right before she said, "go!" Although I know the distance I'll be running this Sunday (13.1 miles) at the USA Half Marathon Championship in Houston, I find myself again headed for another one of those adaptability days.

Give me a 5k any day. I can (and sometimes in my dreams do) run those in my sleep. I know exactly when it will start hurting, exactly where I need to start pushing the pace, exactly when I can't let the pack get away and exactly when it's time to kick it in despite the burn. But half marathons and marathons feel far from natural right now. Used to be Coach wouldn't let me run long runs farther than 12 miles, now my race is even more than that!

I had a similar feeling earlier this week when I went to get my hair cut at Great Clips, spurred on by the coupon I had found earlier in the day and my old college ritual of getting my hair cut before every Big Ten race (it makes you lighter and therefore you'll run faster, duh). I was the only female customer there and I listened as each male went to the chair and listed off how they wanted their hair cut. "One and three," "Two for the sides and the top," "Two and four." Simple - a few easy instructions and they knew exactly what they would get. Myself on the other hand told the hair dresser that I was trying to grow out my hair. I ended up with so much cut off that I now have trouble putting it up in a pony tail without clips, the female runners ultimate annoyance.

I was momentarily jealous of the guys who had it so easy, so predictable. Going into this race, I've found myself yearning for the comfort of a familiar 5k or 10k on the track. Yet, when I went home and looked in the mirror, I actually did like my hair cut and it was fun to have something new and fresher. As the half marathon draws closer I'm finding myself more and more excited to get another crack at the distance and learn those things I already know about the shorter races.

No matter what challenges this race brings, I'm well prepared to adapt to them. Now, if I was only as well prepared for the actual trip... once again it is the night before I'm leaving and I haven't even started packing! Wish me luck (with the packing that is; with the race, a good trainer once told me you have to make your own luck and I prescribe to that theory whole-heartedly). Off to the Lone Star State for one more Adaptability Day!