So it's 2:40 a.m. and I can't sleep...I'm all fired up about the upcoming marathon (either that or the pint of Ben and Jerry's I inhaled as "fuel" last night just isn't agreeing with me!) <--probably the latter.
Anyway, I finally looked at the topographical map of the marathon route and the hilliness for miles 1-8 looks daunting. The fact that the last 1.2 miles are also straight uphill ain't helping my psyche, but I guess when you're running a route designed by U.S. Marines, flat and 'cushy' just isn't an option :-)
So I am "tapering" my training, which means working down from the long runs (which peaked at 20.6 miles, not my hope of 23), but am feeling pretty good about my pacing on the runs this time (averaging between 8 and 9.5 minute miles, depending on distance), so, bring on DC! My goal is to get back to the sub-4 hour time, but given the horrible events in the Chicago Marathon this past weekend (1 death, 10,000 no-shows, and an official early ending to the 88 degree race), I realize that finishing and staying alive (not in that order) are my 2 top priorities!
I am grateful to those of you who have been so supportive as I've tried to balance training with work and life and general, most notably Lena, Noah and Ali -- I know the "free" time I take for my runs isn't always 'free', and their love and support has truly been more consistent than my running! (including all the no-questions-asked rescue missions, which have consisted of Paul calling from his cell phone at random times on a weekend to beg for a ride home from an over-ambitious run). I am also grateful to my DC hosts, Angie and Luis, who've graciously allowed me to crash at their place for the weekend of the marathon.
As the cool fall weather hits and the winter weather will inevitably soon follow, I am hopeful to continue the running in the months ahead. I welcome your comments, and hope that reading about an everyday guy like me running marathons is entertaining, if not inspirational, for you!
Happy Thursday! Paul
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1 comment:
Entertaining and inspirational, I'd agree with that! Not that I'll be running in any marathons anytime soon, but I have been out walking my dogs more often. And as our set of 10 feet "pound" the pavement, I do think about what it must be like to posess the will to run 26 miles in a row!
Anyhow, I think it is awesome....good luck in DC!
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