YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
The feeling will get worse temporarily as your mileage backs down. There will be moments of hesitation---"could this be right?" "I have to run less?" "Will I be ready?"
There is nothing you can do between now and race day to make your training go any better. You have done ALL the hard work. Training is smooth sailing here on out (and should be treated as such
). Think of race day like Christmas morning---you are so excited and cannot wait to open the gifts--will you like them or won't you? Will the anticipation ever melt into reality?
Then Marathon Eve comes--you can't sleep---you worry about the alarms....this is all...NORMAL! You do what you can to prepare mentally. NO crazy activity in the next several weeks. You take Expo slowly--absorb all the energey (and expel as little energy as possible). ON Marathon Eve--layout ALL of your gear (I like to assemble it the way it will look when I am wearing it--others lay it out in the order it will go on their body). Set a wake up call AND the alarm AND the cell phone alarm while you are at it. Give in to sleep when the time comes.
Race day--you will wake up--not believing the day has finally arrived. Put on all that gear. Eat your breakfast--and get ready for a day of fun.
Watch that start--you will want to start out fast. First things first--you can't b/c there are thousands in front of you. Then they start moving, then stop, move then stop, then move, then move some more, then slow down, then move again.....for the first mile. then for the next 3 miles---it is traffic jam. Take it easy--you are in no rush. You're at Disney! You are going to ENJOY those 26 miles. Lightly jog--deliberately try not to go above pace (you'll be waisting much needed energy for later).
Then the crowds thin a bit...running is more manageable. Now it is time to play a game. This game is called--"Catch all the runners who shot out from the start". Pick a person--any person...you aren't "racing" to pass them--but they are now your quarry....and all you need to do is travel a pace that is only 1 second faster then them. Then you pick them off.
Visualize what you can do---you will get to the finish!
I tell you--when people at the finish corrals tell you it is JUST AROUND THE CORNER---believe it! (I saw so may runners that we'd yell this to...we'd have to tell them to look up and suddenly they look up and see it!). And finally--you have made it!
These next few weeks will be tough b/c your body will start screaming that it wants to get out and book it. Just HONOR the taper...and all will be well.
You made it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
LLP--2005 finisher of the full
I completed my last 20 about an hour and a half ago - what a great feeling! Only 2 more long runs before race day...I can't believe it's almost here!!!
