Am I ready to run a marathon this Saturday? Well, um, I don't think anyone is ever really 'ready' to run 26.2 miles (at least not at my pace). However, I have done all the necessary training... So, let's say I'm "prepared." Mostly.
This week was easy-breezy. I did a 3-mile run Tuesday and 2-mile run yesterday (both followed by the customary 1+mile walk). Now it's two days of rest and then... The marathon.
I don't recall if I've mentioned that I drove the course last week. Ugh. That was maybe a mistake. I had no idea it was so hilly. Undoubtedly the hilliest course I've run - marathon or otherwise. But still...
I feel pretty good. I have no aches or pains other than an occasional ache in my left knee, which is probably more from how I sit on the couch than running-related. I've taken better care of my feet this year by soaking in a mixture of Epsom Salts and Baking Soda, and the use of a pumice stone; plus the size 8.5 Brooks Glycerin 20s fit me like Cinderella's slipper. Also, the upper respiratory "thing" I've been dealing with the past couple weeks seems to have finally cleared up.
Mentally I feel pretty good too. The first year (2018) was good because I was excited and was around a lot of other people who were either running it too or were simply just excited for me. That's really the only thing I miss about not working: I don't really have anyone to talk about training and running in general with. But the nice thing about not working is I don't have the stress to deal with. In fact, I'd say that I am a much calmer person overall. Hopefully I'm not as difficult and don't make as many bad decisions as I used to.
So, the only thing left to do is try to get plenty of sleep, rest, and at some point I need to get everything ready for the morning of the marathon. It looks like the rain may hold off (at least as of right now) but the temps are still a little iffy. It should be somewhere between 35-40F at the start, and maybe just up to 60 by the end. I haven't yet decided on shorts, long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirt, jacket, gloves; whether to carry my water bottle or not; phone or not; how to carry gels, and what I might want to take to change out after the first loop (or not). I also want to have a cooler for post-race snacks/drinks, because I'm not sure what/if they will have there. So there are still a few variables up in the air that will likely be morning-of decisions. I'd at least like to have everything accessible, and may just pack it all in the car just in case. :)
Otherwise, yep, looks like I will likely make it to the starting line Saturday for marathon #8. The bigger question is if I can make it to the finish! You just never know. Four and a half hours is a lot of time for any number of things to happen.
And... have I mentioned that I will be running 26.2 miles on my 62nd birthday?!? Yeah, that was kind of why I ultimately chose this one. How often is that gonna happen? Plus, it's a "veterans" marathon, so I thought I'd do it in honor of my old man. God knows I never did anything for him while he was alive, and it's a bit overdue, but I did have a boatload of respect for him. I wish he hadn't been the high school principal, so I could have been proud of my dad like most people are. I guess I always felt like that wouldn't be "cool" since all my friends and basically everyone else in our small town in some way always thought of him as the "enemy" in some way or other. So, hopefully I can spend some soul-time reminiscing over the course of the day.
Now I'm going to go try to vote - if I can find a place that doesn't have a mile-long line!
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