I just completed my last long run before the marathon. Today's run followed the actual route along Beach Blvd and then the beach trail to slightly past Wild Water Works and back... the last 13.5k or so.
It was a perfect morning for running. Not all of my training was like that though. It started in early August, just when things were beginning to heat up after a cooler and wetter than average July. Running in the heat those days was nothing less than terrible! Heat and I do not get along to begin with, and to add 10 degrees to it through running was just dreadful for me. Towards the end of August and into September, things began to cool down somewhat, and training became a bit more tolerable.... temperature-wise (minus that one RIDICULOUSLY humid day in late September. I actually nearly killed a person). Then October came, and with it cooler temperatures. Cooler to cold is best for me in running. I can stick things out longer ,I don't overheat, and I just like the way it feels. It might be too far away to preview a forecast for marathon day, but I hope it stays true to the date: November 1st (which SHOULD mean crispness with sun *crosses fingers*).
The entire training process was grueling. As usual, speed work throughout the week, long runs on Saturday, with maybe two days off in the week. That was the same schedule I followed for Around the Bay last winter, but the thing this time around was that I was running with runners who've been running for MUCH longer than I have! And they're fast (to be sure, I've dubbed them "The Cheetahs" in my mind). At the start, I tried keeping up with them... I really tried. But I'd only end up burning out and feeling shitty about myself for not being able to keep up. Thankfully Andrew is one of the greatest trainers I've ever met, and he was kind enough to sit me down and help me realize that The Cheetahs have been running for years, decades even. I haven't even been at this for 2 years yet (It will be 2 in January). In that short time I've run several 5k's, an 8k, 30 for Around the Bay (which, if I may add, is the "hardest race I've ever run" according to many of the runner's I've met at the Den and while waiting for the shot pistol at starting lines of various races), and now this marathon. Running for yourself is what it all comes down to, and after I was able to internalize this, things went much more smoothly. Everyone has their own pace. Mine isn't' as fast as some others, but still some others are not as fast as me. It's ok. I do not run to win. I run because I just like the sport. I challenge myself in various was (particularly through speed work!), and when it's over I love the feeling of self-satisfaction I experience. That's why I run. So I can be proud of myself in the end. I run to finish. Eventually I may be as fast as The Cheetahs, and if that ever happens I will have to do my own little happy dance.
Shall we talk injuries? Ok. Throughout the course of this training, I've nursed some awful shin splints, some weeeeeiiirrrd thing in the front of my right thigh, and my poor toes are nearly all bruised (not the whole toe, just the toe nail part... which I assure you is normal for distance runners. But not very pretty). When I got the shin splints, I was convinced I was going to have to drop out of the race completely. THEY.WERE.TERRIBLE. Walking hurt. Again, thanks to Andrew's great knowledge and advice, I got through it, and lived to tell the tale. But then this thigh thing happened, and it's been lingering for about 3 weeks now. It's a strange pain... I've never had something pinch there before. Walking's ok, but to run and put three times my body weight in pressure on it can prevent me from running. Hooray for ibuprofen! It has numbed the pain and helped me to carry on week to week, run to run. Now the pain seems to be dissipating, which is a HUGE relief for me! As for the toes... this happened during Around the Bay training as well, and it took a bit for it to go away, but it eventually did. And this, I believe, is the reason God invented nail polish ;). And other than these few "ailments", I'm in fine form!
I try not to pay too much attention to my watch. I'm not going to the Olympics, and right now I'm not even attempting to qualify for Boston (maybe one day I'd like to try though). So what's the point in keeping time? That being said, judging from my training and the general times it takes me to run particular distances, I'd be happy to finish this marathon in 4hrs 15minutes. If I meet this goal, awesome. If I beat this goal, even better. If I exceed this time, I'm ok with that too. I do not see there being any productivity, speaking only for myself, in holding a time to finish in, because if I do not meet that goal I will only beat myself up and not acknowledge any of the effort and work I put into all the training and actual running of this marathon. Which, I can tell you, was A LOT of work and effort!
I've made a ton of sacrifices to do this. In the summer, I'd have to rush home and then to the Runner's Den to train. It was exhausting! (i.e. after working with some pretty challenging children, having to get up pretty early to be a camp, hurrying to the Den, etc). I haven't had alcohol in so long! (haha, that makes me sound like an alcoholic! But I am pretty happy my birthday is on November 10th and the race will be over... It means I can celebrate my birthday the proper way, woooo, haha). I haven't slept in on a Saturday in a very looooooooooong time, and having to get up at 6:30, in the dark to run super far doesn't make me feel any better about that. I have had to decline several invitations out with friends because I've had to train. I have had only a single night to myself for a very long while since training has been going on. I hope this next point doesn't make me seem like a fraud in any way, but at risk of that I'm going to say it anyway: I'm a bit looking forward to the race being over, if only so I can regain a "normal" life again. I'm pretty excited to sleep in on Saturday's, and to have some fun out. And I want to have fun for my birthday. That's not asking too much, I think I deserve it at this point ;).
Now might be a good time to thank EVERYONE who has stood by me supporting me through my training. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your encouragment, congratulations, and faith have definitely kept me going, and I'm not sure I can ever thank you enough or repay you for everything you've given me emotionally. You all rock!
Anyway, that's all I can think of for now. It's very exciting that Road 2 Hope is only 8 days away. I am going to give it everything I have. That is the best way I know how to come out on top.
Here goes nothing....
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