Beating the Race Registration Jinx

Saturday afternoon I took a deep breath and registered for my fall races, including the California International Marathon on December 6. It was a triumph of hope over experience. What has happened over the last two years is race registration  immediately followed by debilitating injury. I was spitting in the eye of Fate before heading out for my 14-mile run yesterday.

I started at 7 a.m. and the temperature was already 68 degrees, but I was well-fed, well-hydrated, and I took it easy. Everything went great. I ran steadily and comfortably at a 9:10 average pace, with negative splits (1:05 vs. 1:03). And no injury or pain of any kind (knock on wood).

The only horrifying thing was discovering afterward that the 14-miler was my longest run in 20 months. I hadn’t run further than a half-marathon since the infamous yappy little dog incident.

Anyway, I continue my sacrifices to the Running Gods to keep me healthy and happy throughout the fall racing season. I have another 14-miler scheduled for next Sunday to cap my first 40-mile week in dogs’ years.