I am a big liar

I’m doing the Portland Run Like a Girl 10k in mid July. It’s a women-only race, through a forested, city park. It ends inside the gates of a zoo, where food, drink and music await the finishers. Afterwards, I plan to stroll around the grounds, drenched in endorphins and sweat, eating and looking at critters. I am truly happy that I’ll be running in this race.

The only thing that could diminish my joy is the possibility of crushing, public humiliation.

It’s one of those races that starts in waves to avoid a bloody stampede. Runners are grouped at the starting line according to their estimated mile pace. Your estimated pace is the number you enter when filling out the online registration form, in the privacy of your home, without anyone to look over your shoulder and snicker and look skeptical.

I so lied on the form. I estimated a pace that was about 20 seconds faster than my current PR. Did I mention that the trail is notorious for its hills?

But hey, I’m a hopeful, optimistic person when I’m not being depressed and fatalistic. Besides, when I registered, July seemed like a long ways off, long enough that a miracle might happen.

It turns out, though, that I may not need a miracle. I may only need to improve my stride technique. (A coach would come in handy at times like this.)

I ran 7 miles today, focusing on advice I read about planting your foot firmly, directly beneath your hip, and pushing off forcefully. You also contract certain muscles, lean, and do a few other good things. (Learn more in “Brain Training for Runners” by Matt Fitzgerald.)

Doing these things, I read, will make you more efficient, faster and less prone to injury. It worked for me today. I ran nearly as fast as my optimistic estimate, with only a moderately uncomfortable effort.

I’m thinking that if this technique works, by July, I’ll be an honest woman.

Here we are running in the Bridge to Bridge to Brews 10k a few weeks ago. We’re crossing the Broadway Bridge in Portland. You can tell from our pained expressions that we’re really paying the price of the hill we just covered. Look at the focus and determination. Look at me over-striding!