When a race achieves its objective

Gosport Semi Marathon a distant memory, time to try another similar race. This time with a different objective. A run for fun and a wee blast before next week's 3 race challenge....
Conditions could not have been worse (well they could have but for the purpose of this piece please try and imagine the worst conditions ever!), freezing cold, torrential rain and crowds of people all around me. Not good for a claustrophobic runner.
Wise words from coach firmly etched in my mind "you love to run, racing is running, therefore you enjoy racing" I leapt forward as the gun when off and braced myself for the onslaught.
Within the first 0.5 mile I had to check my stride and almost stop as someone cut right in front of me, two hundred yards later it happened again,and then again. I could feel my ankle react and my mind transported temporarily back to Gosport. Not today. I could not stop today. I dug deep, then deeper and then I found what I needed for that moment. I got angry felt it grow in my belly and into my mind. How rude these people were, do they not have any racing manners at all. It is almost paramount to bullying and very selfish too. Overtake and then cut directly in front of person, causing them to alter their stride just because you want that line. If you are running faster than me then please just continue for a few strides more and let me enjoy my run too.
I am almost ashamed to say this (as it is comparing myself to others which one should not do), but I thought "how many of these people have represented Great Britain, run in a World Championships, and become a Champion of a Nation"?
On that thought, I breathed deeply and continued on my path with a strong mind. I did not get anxious, did not try to escape, just ran.
After a few more miles the crowds had thinned and it was no longer a problem for the claustrophobic runner. I was in the zone, running very comfortably and enjoying the race, even enjoying the rain when it came down in buckets (and these buckets were like the size of 5 tonne skips - honest). I was only running at marathon/ultra pace, which was acceptable as my only objective today was to get to the finish line happy and comfortable, fully prepared for next weekend.
I did it. I got to the finish with a huge beaming smile.
Yesterday I ran a comfortable 5k PB in a very respectable time of 19.06, today I conquered one of my little mind demons.

When a race goes wrong

Gosport Semi Marathon. A chance to test my fitness, push myself and further build my confidence. One of my racing targets for 2009.
Did not happen. I quit after five miles. If I am honest I quit before I even started.
I will not detail the reasons why I actually stopped, I know exactly why I stopped and I am neither proud nor ashamed of my reasons. They were my reasons.
The aftermath of making such a decision can be pretty intense and debilitating. I remember all too well how public opinion was divided when Paula stepped off the course at the Olympic marathon. How quickly people that did not want to understand turned against her. It was nothing short of shameful.
So on that note, I will not dwell on this race and the experience I endured. I will move on and do someting about it to make sure that it never happens again.
Every problem has at least two solutions......