I have not blogged in forever. I have been beyond a little busy. Time is flying quickly by and the Marine Corps Marathon is in 28 days. Wow. It seems like I have been training for this race for a long, long time. And, in fact, I have. I believe I have been training for this, my first marathon, since I started running. Really, since I began running, I have never stopped training. I have scheduled race after race after race. I think in order to challenge yourself as a runner you have to have goals. For me personally, those goals include races...first the 5k...then the 10k...then the Half Marathons...and now...the Full Marathon.
Am I prepared? I think I am. I have trained long and hard. I have trained smart. I have had only one minor injury and have been diligent in my training. My training has been slow and steady. I am strong and have built up my endurance.
My long runs have escalated from 6 miles to 18 miles...and next week...my longest run ever... will be 20 miles before I begin 3 weeks of taper before game day.
There have been times of struggle. When I am tired. Actually, when I am exhausted. When I don't feel 100%. Days like today, when I started the day with a migraine, and everything and anything just threw my run off. But, still, even with not feeling on top of my game...on any given day...for any particular reason...because I am an athlete...and I am in training...I do what I have to do...and I do what I am required to do...and I completed the run today. Times when I have to analyze an ache, a pain, a twitch when I am running. Is it something I can run through or is it an injury? Times when I don't feel like getting up at 5:00 a.m. and going to the gym to work out. Times when it is a challenge juggling being a wife, a mom to 4 kids...homeschooling 1 ten year old child daily as well as overseeing 2 high school daughters and offering the best advise I can to a college-aged daughter. Throw in teaching one day a week...well, I'd like to add a couple more days a week of teaching...spinning many plates, here...and many times, not doing a very good job.
The race is 4 weeks from Sunday. I am thrilled. I am so excited. I try not to let days like today unnerve me. My training will carry me. I will go to the race prepared. I will do my best and enjoy the day and the race. This is what I have been working for all along.
Will I do more marathons after Marine Corps? I'm thinking not. This old broad is a bit tired. Training for a marathon is a lot of work. Takes a lot of time. Even with getting up at 5:00 in the morning so I can be back home to school my son...as my mileage has increased closer to race day, my weekends have been consumed with my long runs. I love the fact that I challenged myself with completing a marathon before my 50th birthday in December. What a gift to myself. After Marine Corps, I will continue to run and work out because I love it, and I feel better when I do. I may check out some Warrior Dashes...they sound like fun!
Well, off to do something productive and rest up for my tough week of runs next week. 40 miles total mileage...including a long run of 20 miles. Wow.
