lots to be scared about.

[mansikka]

Ten hours from now, I'll have started Chicago Marathon 2010. There're so many reasons why I'm uneasy about it. I trained in San Francisco, where the mornings were lower 50s - upper 60s, fairly consistently over the summer, and the forecast for tomorrow is 85. I have a cold. I didn't train with any program, just generally worked my mileage up, and decided easy/hard days more or less on intuition and how I felt. I only cranked out two 20-milers in training (did about a dozen 16ers over the summer though). Plagued with a knee that randomly decides to give me hell for a week or two at a time. Gained a good 15 pounds since last year (um, oops). So I know I most likely won't beat last year's time. Disappointing, yeah. In a number of ways, I'll consider myself lucky to finish. I vacillate between feeling like I should have a time goal and feeling like just finishing is rewarding enough. Not sure what I should be feeling, and likely won't figure it out by the time I cross the start line.

But, I love this, and I'll give it my best, and drag myself across the finish line if need be. I'm proud to be doing this, even if my time sucks. It was only a year ago that I found myself running my first marathon, after starting running only six months before, and being able to say, "I never stopped to walk." This, I think, is the same determination that'll carry me through tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone else with a race tomorrow or coming up!!

Comments

[melusina]

Have a fantastic race tomorrow - I bet the adrenaline will kick in and you'll do great!

[mansikka]

Thanks for the encouragement! Powered through; I was slower than last year, but was happy enough to have finished in the heat.

[ell]

Good luck and have a great race!

[mansikka]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! It turned out well enough that I'm trying to decide which'll be my next one. ;) (I really want to beat my better time, now.)

[thalia]

I can't believe how warm it got today!!!! Hopefully it'll stay at least sort of cool tomorrow morning, but I suspect it'll be miserable by noon. Take it slow and drink lots of water, and good luck!

[mansikka]

Yeah, I did take it slow; I pretty much never walk when I run, but I had to walk through the aid stations on Sunday. Otherwise I would've probably passed out.

When I ran by, the clock at De La Salle on 35th claimed it was 96. I think that's bogus (people would've been dropping like flies), but it was hot, and felt especially hot, since the second half of the course is pretty much without shade.

[thalia]

Good job finishing! It got up to 85 out here in the burbs, which is plenty warm enough.

[cyphomandra]

All the best for your run!! Hope you have a great day.

(and your post helped motivate me to get out and do my planned 14k run, as a sudden cold snap and a lot of rain had put me into an excuse-making frame of mind. I have now almost dried out again :) )

[mansikka]

:) thanks for your encouragement, and glad something good came of my self-doubt! I totally understand the excuse-making voice -- it's pretty convincing, sometimes.

[nanila]

I hope it was enjoyable despite your misgivings!