Two Months to Go

Amazing as it is, the Twin Cities Marathon is two months from today. That’s scary, exciting and a relief all at once.

It’s scary because I know that two months from right now I’ll be working hard physically and mentally to stay focused and just keep running. I’ll probably be feeling good for awhile, but I’ll need to dig deep at some point to keep going. I guess the scary part is that I hope I can finish. 26.2 is no small distance and I’m afraid I’ll start with that number in my head instead of focusing on each mile and relying on my training. Maybe I need to start thinking of mantras to recite to myself during specific challenges to help me push through. I’ll take suggestions.

It’s exciting because the day will be long in coming and highly anticipated. Training has a purpose (I must keep reminding myself) and it’s Oct. 4. I want to start the race full of excitement and anticipation, not fear and dread. I’m sure those emotions will creep in, but I’m going to banish them and put the excitement on top. Maybe smiling while I run will help. A great family cheering section will help too.

Oct. 4 will bring relief. Doesn’t sound like the feeling one gets from a marathon, does it? Usually runners feel anything but relief – they hurt and they tire and they struggle. My relief will come in two forms – relief to finish and relief to finish training. For more about relief to finish, see the two previous paragraphs. I think one of the best parts of finishing the marathon, besides the accompanying pride, will be the sheer relief that my training is finished. No more planning every week according to when I can run and what time I have to fit in certain distances. No more planning my weekends around my long run. No more running to train – I’ll be able to run for running’s sake. Oh the relief… I can feel it.

At this time in two months I should be at the 15 mile point ….maybe a little scared but mostly excited with the goal in view and relief in sight…