A few months ago, I signed up to run the Publix Georgia Marathon on March 23.
As was the case two years ago (Mercedes Marathon, Birmingham), I did all the training runs with the feeling that the big day was still out there somewhere-- something abstract, like chasing a cloud.
But right around noon today, I finished my last training run. It paced out faster than I wanted it to, since the plan was for an easy run to follow yesterday's tempo effort.
This means all the hay is now in the barn. The next time I put on a pair of shoes will be when I toe the line in Atlanta in about two and a half days, and I am starting to feel it. What was 'out there' not long ago is directly in front of me. I suppose it's a little nervousness, but I'm not bouncing off the walls or anything.
Perhaps it's focusing in on what I want to do. The goal in 2012 was merely to finish, and the only reason I made it then was because it hurt less to keep running than it did to stop and start again. Now that I have a benchmark and a solid training base, I want to run well.
So now we think about things like carb loading and terrain maps. We have a hotel near the start, so that is a nonissue. The hardest part is that I'm even staying off booze until after the race, since it would affect my sleep patterns in the next few days. However, I have decided ice cream is a good and wonderful thing.
Race goals:
-- run the entire race
-- finish in under four hours
-- break 3:50 (about 8:45 pace)
