Would you rather … ?

Three weeks out from my race (Around the Bay 30K) for which I’ve been training all winter, I’ve sustained an injury. Instead of a taper, I’ve come to an abrupt halt. Needless to say, I’m a bit upset. I’m still unsure how bad the injury is – it hurts to run fast, but jogging slowly is ok. All I can do is rest it and hope for the best on the start line. I am still clinging to optimistic hope. I’ve always said that over-tapering is rarely something which brings on negative results, so if I can manage to race with manageable pain there is a chance I can still hit my goal of a PB (1:56). In situations like this one, I try to remember that it could always be worse. I like to play a little game with myself called “Would you rather …” where the answer leads me to choosing the scenario I’m in.

For those who have never played it, “Would you rather … ” is a game where you’re given two bad options, and you have to choose one. It’s a fun way to mentally torture yourself.
For example: Would you rather…
a) have a hairline that starts at your eyebrows and continues up your forehead, or
b) have a nose sticking out of the back of your head?
They’ve even made it into a children’s book, so of course I bought a copy.

Here is a typical choice:

There are a lot of things which could happen throughout a training cycle and race which have the potential of throwing you off course. I think about those and this is how I play my game.

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) sustain an injury in the middle of a big training block?
I choose a).

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) come down with the flu 2 days before your race?
Again – a).

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) have your car break down on the side of the road on the way to the race so you miss the start?
My answer: a).

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) have a wicked storm blow in on race morning with torrential freezing rain and fierce head-winds leaving no hope of a PB?
Totally a).

Of course any of these other things could happen as well, but in my game, I’ve already picked my choice, so option b) won’t happen. Sort of like karma. Those of you racing Around the Bay 30K can thank me for the perfect racing conditions we’ll be receiving on race day.