Zombie 2021 Post-Race Analysis

It’s been a few days since race day (Zombie Half Marathon), but I finally feel like I have a bit of energy again-- at least enough to ruminate a bit. I’m going to break this analysis into a few sections and I’m hoping that you’ll find something useful for your races.

How I felt in the moment:

Gut reaction, not having talked to anyone, I felt whooped crossing that finish line. I gave the final push everything I had at the moment. I’ve had much better finishes, yes, but those were other races, other days. For that specific day and how I was feeling, that really was everything I had. That is something to be proud of. I’m telling this both to you and to myself. Sometimes races really feel like a struggle, and they are, but use it to your advantage. You really shouldn’t physically push yourself to your limit on a normal workout (even if it is a quality interval session), so race day is the only time to work on your physical and mental fortitude. This mental feat will better prepare me for future races.

How it compares to race goals:

Woot woot! I got a PR! That was my primary goal. It may have only been a 59 second best, but I worked for every second. This course finishes with a half mile climb with an average grade of 5.4% and the point-to-point course had net elevation gain. For weather, it was around 40F and raining. So really, there wasn’t a lot in my favor, but I ran my fastest half marathon yet. Did I get my stretch goal of a sub 2 hour half? No, and that’s okay! It’s just a stretch goal. That is why you make more than one goal. My most basic goal was to just finish the dang race. I’m quite pleased with checking off the goals that I did.

How others have reacted:

The people who I’ve talked to throughout the course of this training cycle have been excellent. They’ve seen some of the ups and downs, and I’ve had a few chats about goals, so they’ve been quite supportive (especially the hubby-wubby, but I talk his ear off about exercise all the time). Other people a bit more in the periphery have been a bit more of a mixed bag. There have been a few consoling congratulations? I’m not sure how else to describe them, but whatever. People be people. I’m chuffed with the result, so I’m going to stick with those feelings and work towards the next race at my own rate and with my own goals.

I hope everyone else has had success in their fall races! Don’t let others get you down and do what you need to do at this stage in your exercise life.