I'm not sure if you remember me saying this a couple of posts ago but one of the things I've learned while running and training for a marathon is to respect the distance. Well, it seems I've disregarded my own advice and am going into this marathon in 2 1/2 weeks as ill prepared as I have ever been! I am already nauseous with worry about what I know is to come on January 20th, race day, and at this point I can do nothing about it except confess my disrespectful training practices to try and purge the negativity from my mind so I will have a clear and positive head for 42.2 kms.
I am currently supposed to be starting my "taper" to lessen my kms per run and get my legs nice and fresh for race day. Well, this whole 4 months of training (I use the term very loosely) has been one big "taper". Maybe that means I will be more ready than I've ever been? The experienced marathoner in me says not. Usually my marathon training would consist of 4-5 runs per week for 4-plus months with my Sunday run being my long training run, gradually adding distance from 13 - 36kms. Then 3 weeks out I would drop that long run down to 20, then 10kms to give my legs a chance to recover and be race ready. This time I can almost count on one hand, with a 2 finger spill over, how many long runs I have done over the 20km mark with the longest of them being a measly 25kms. In case you're keeping track that is 18kms shy of what I will be running on January 20th. There is no pride in the past 4 months of training and I am the only person to blame. Needless to say, this is really going to hurt!
A couple of months ago I had asked where you draw your motivation from and I shared a couple of my motivators at that time. This time, I'm asking you for something different. This time I'm asking you to help motivate me to give me a little something from you to allow me to think of you and get me through the 42.2kms that I will be running in 2 1/2 short weeks. What I would love to have from each of you is a song to add to my Bahamas marathon playlist. I don't normally run with my ipod but I have decided that I will be on January 20th as I can use all of the distraction I can get! Think of either your favorite song with a good beat or a song that you've used before to get pumped up for a big game or even a big date. Make it something personal to you so that I can remember why I added it to my playlist, remember who suggested it, and that song will be your motivator to me to get through that portion of the marathon.
I have shared my frustrations with myself and my training with only one other person up to now and she is struggling mentally and physically with getting her body across the Bahamas finish line as well. One of the sayings that we have used frequently over the past 6 months is "NEVER. GIVE. UP." I have since adopted this as my new mantra and I will be repeating it over and over to myself when it gets rough out there. With my new mantra and a playlist riddled with songs from those I love, I know I will reach that finish line with my head held high, no matter how long it takes me!
As always, thank you for your support and NEVER. GIVE. UP!
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