Ready...Set...

I'm pretty embarrassed that I started this blog thinking it would help me stay accountable for my training and I haven't updated it in over a month.  The good news is that the training is on schedule.  I've had a few challenges but I've overcome them and now I am feeling great about my accomplishments.

In my last post I talked about working around other people's schedules and how difficult it was on my 16 mile run in Baltimore.  A few weeks later I was planning to visit my friend Amy in College Park, Maryland over the weekend.  This meant that I would have to do an 18 miler while I was there, without Sam.  My mom recommended that I skip the trip, but it had been so long since I'd seen my friends that I decided to go.

The night before my run Amy made me a lovely whole wheat pasta meal with all kinds of veggies.  I had two glasses of wine and resisted the requests to do shots with the group.  My plan was to get up early and do the run and get back when everyone was waking up.  I mapped out where I would run on the University of Maryland's campus and hit the hay.

The next morning I woke up before the sun came up, got dressed, grabbed my Gatorade and I was off.  Approximately 15 minutes later I called my sleeping friends to inform them that someone had stolen my Gatorade.  Who steals Gatorade?  Opened Gatorade at that!  I realize that the economy is bad, but I had no idea it was effecting the sports drink market so much.

Amy was so sweet and brought me two replacement bottles and even picked a hiding place so they wouldn't be stolen.  The remainder of the run went off without a hitch. 

At about mile 15 a man in a minivan drove by and shouted "Keep it up!" This really got me moving.  I started to think about what the atmosphere would be like in Wilmington on race day.  I could imagine people shouting from the sidelines "You're a marathoner!  You can do this!"  Then I started imagining myself on those sidelines cheering on other marathoners.  I was sweaty and red faced, indicating that I didn't finish last and I wanted to inspire others to the finish.  But even if I finish last I will be OK with that.   

One of the mental techniques my training guide teaches me is to imagine myself crossing the finish line.  I don't use this technique too often because just imagining it is so overwhelming emotionally that it actually uses up more energy than I can spare on a long run.  I can't wait to really experience it though. 

The race is Sunday and I'm ready.