Half Tomorrow

As I've been saying over and over again ... I can't believe my half is already here. That means the full is just one month out. I've been very uppity and anxious these last couple days. I have no doubt that I can finish - that's not the issue. It's the competition with myself. I know how fast I am capable of running this and that's what terrifies me. What if I'm not feeling good at the start? What if I start out too fast? What if the hills are bigger than the hills in Raleigh? What if I don't live up to my successful training so far? Yup ... that's what has been flooding my mind.

Optimistically thinking - I know all this adrenaline will work in my favor (or I'm hoping it will). When I start the race all these thoughts will vanish and, just like when I ran the D.C. Cherry Blossom 10-miler, I will be in awe at my surroundings. Thousands of people running for so many different reasons, yet all having one goal and destination. Countless spectators cheering for you. They might forget you once you've passed but when they saw you - they were hoping for the very best for you at that moment. Their faces and shouts are genuine. It's a feeling like none other. Even if it's during a 5K I encourage anyone to experience it at least once.

I'm waiting for my clothes to finish drying in the dryer and then I'll take off for Maryland. I'm staying with my brother-in-law's sister tonight and we'll meet my sister tomorrow morning before we head to the start line. Chris is going to get on the road when he gets off work around 7pm. I'm so happy he'll be there. It makes the experience so much greater when I know I have him to run to at the finish line.

I have been drinking a lot of water this week especially and only one soda a day. In addition, I've been building up on carbs throughout the week so I have a good bit of energy to pull from for tomorrow. Tonight I'm eating a Healthy Choice frozen dinner (great choice, eh?). Chicken with rice and veggies. It has the carbs I need but not in excess. Carbs are important pre-race but you don't want to overload. Yesterday I bought GU Chomps. I went for the bite-sized gummies this time as opposed to the GU packets. No particular reason - it's just what I was feeling.

The first wave will start at 9:45am tomorrow. I'll get up around 6:30am so I can get something to eat and have enough time to use the bathroom before I start running. I would hate to have to stop mid-race. The hardest thing for me is stopping and starting; it almost feels like I need to warm up all over again. I think I'll eat half an English muffin or bagel and a banana, something along those lines. Nothing too heavy. I might even stick with just a banana. Again - it all depends on how I'm feeling at the time. I did buy a disposable camera for tomorrow! I want to take pictures during the race to share on my blog! If it gets to be too much of a nuissance then I will simply throw it away. No big loss. But since I brought you along in my training I owe it to you to share the sights!

I think it's time that I pack everything up and hit the road. Can you imagine how much I'll write for my marathon if I wrote this much before my half?! :-) Wish me luck and I'll be talking to you soon!!

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed." -Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ