...and the Answer is:

A couple of days ago I shared my internal struggle with the question of whether to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run next week or not. I knew my final training run would provide an important data point for my decision. It turns out that data point was definitive and I am sure I am making the right decision for me.

The Training Run

I had a 6-mile training run planned for this weekend, the longest run I've had in a month. I knew that how I felt during this run would be an important factor for me to consider as I made my decision. 

• Mile 2: My legs felt heavy and my body felt weary. I reminded myself it usually takes a couple of miles to completely warm up and find my groove. 

• Mile 4: There was no groove to be found. I knew I was going to the run the 5K instead of the 10 Mile Run. 

• Mile 6: I was certain of, and fully at peace with, my decision.

While I know I am capable of running 10 miles in the allotted time next weekend, I won't really enjoy it with that kind of physical and mental fatigue. And above all, I want to enjoy and fully experience next weekend. So the 5K it is! 

Why This Choice is Awesome

Here are all of the good things that come with this decision:

• I can be fully present as a Coach. I will go in on the metro with runners from my =PR= Reston Training group, meet up with others pre-race, see each corral start, and be near the finish to cheer them on. With the race pressure off for me, I can focus on them - their jitters, excitement, last-minute questions, and accomplishments.

• I can enjoy all the weekend activities. There is a lot of cool stuff at the expo, but when I run the 10 Mile Run I am focused on limiting time on my feet. Now I can spend that time more freely and experience more of it. I am looking forward to meeting Meb Keflezighi (!!!) at =PR= and I am excited to go to the elite athlete dinner the night before the race (one of the amazing perks of being a race ambassador).

• I can experience parts of the race I haven't seen before. I'll get to experience the 5K. I'll see the 1K Kids' Run. I can even watch the elite athletes start since I don't have to be in a corral waiting for my own 10 Mile Run start. I've missed all of this in past years while I was running the 10 miler and it will be cool to see other parts of the race day fun.

• I'll run a race distance I can enjoy. While today's run signaled to me that 10 miles would feel like a chore, 3.1 is right up my under-trained alley. I'll still get to run past the tidal basin and see any lingering cherry blossoms, run along the Memorial Bridge while high-fiving the runners on the other side of the bridge and run triumphantly across a finish line.

• I can live-tweet all of the fun! With this more relaxed schedule, and access to more activities than I've experienced in the past, I can document and share the fun live on twitter: Meb, expo, elite athlete dinner, and Sunday's adventures from the early morning metro trip all the way through the awards ceremony and post-race brunch (another race ambassador perk)...I can tweet it all! Thanks to Coach Shannon for planting the live-tweeting seed in my brain.

I hope you can join me (in-person or virtually) for this weekend's Cherry Blossom adventure!