Thursday, January 7, 2010

One More Month

Today is January 7. For me, it will be a somewhat uneventful day. I have to take the girls to and pick them up from their respective schools. I have a boys soccer game to ref, a junior varsity game. I have to figure out what to do for dinner too. I'm thinking... wow, no idea. Maybe something in the slow cooker.

Uneventful. Probably not memorable. But a huge milestone nonetheless.

Today is one month before my first marathon. The Surf City Marathon is on Feb. 7. In one month, I'll be out there tackling on the beast that is the marathon head on.

Lately, when I think about the marathon - and I think about it a lot - I alternate between feeling nervous, like the there's-a-ball-of-nerves-taking-space-up-in-my-stomach type nervous, and excited about the race. I'm excited because I've been training for this race for a long time now. Plus it's going to be a memorable experience for certain, no matter what happens that day.

I'm not going to try and fret for the next month. It's almost here. I signed up for it. I'm nervous/excited for it. Let's go.

The next month will be for me to maintain that sort of mindframe. I don't want to get too worried because I won't do well. I don't want to get too excited because then I won't do well.

In terms of training, I have four long-distance runs left: 15 on Sunday, 22 the following Sunday, then 12 and 10 on the last two Sundays before the big day. I have to sprinkle in about two or three midweek runs between then. Funny thing is, I'm not as worried about 22 as I was for 20 or 18. Probably because I have 26.2 staring at me pretty soon afterward.

So now, the countdown begins in earnest.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I can't believe it's only a month away! You'll be more than adequately prepared. You always are!

Jephy's Mom said...

Ryan Reynold's, the actor, signed up for his first marathon in 2008. He then raised over $100 000 for charity for the event. He was pretty nervous about it. Then, two days before the race he woke up with bronchitis. He said, he was so determined to do it that he would have done the worm for 26 miles if he had too. He started out slow, but after a few miles he picked up speed. His lungs started to clear and he actually ran faster then usual. He completed the marathon in under 4 hours. He was, however, passed by a blind man, a one legged man, a person with no arms and a guy in an unbreathable latex batman suit. I heard this story on the radio.

chris mcpeake said...

Good luck on your first, there is nothing like it.

Jen Feeny said...

The month before your first marathon is probably the most roller coaster month you'll ever have; so many ups and downs, taper madness, anxiety, etc... but honestly it will be the most fun too! You have that final long run before switching gears, anticipation starts to build and you start realizing that all your hard work and dedication is about to pay off! Best of luck! I can't wait to read your recap. There is something so magical about a first marathon recap, it's a feeling that can't be explained, only experienced. I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think about Chicago! Cheers to one month!

Tattoos and Teething Rings said...

I'd be worried if you weren't a little nervous; but, you know you'll do just fine. You have prepared and done all you can, now you just need to get it done with :)

Mark Baker said...

A month? It's been in your sights for so long, it's hard to believe it is so close.

I have every confidence you'll do well.

Can't wait to hear about it when you finish.