Fit, Focused and Balanced

It’s hard to believe that my race is less than a month away.  In fact in 23 days, I will be running my first marathon!  Wow.  Hard to believe and still very scary.  My brother recently said that the banners are starting to get put up for the run in Portland.  When he told me, my heart kind of sunk.  Not a bad sinking feeling but an oh my gosh this is really happening feeling.  My adrenaline soared and I felt excited and scared.  I’m trying to do all I can to prepare myself for this run.  I know it’s going to be hard.  I don’t even think I realize how hard it will truly be which is probably a good thing.  I have 3 weeks of training left and my last really hard LSD run this Sat.  I know once I finish this, I can breathe a sigh of relief because I know I can do the other Saturday runs.  After this Saturday, I will begin to taper.  Which just means that it will be a period of active rest for me.  I’ll still run but I won’t push myself as hard as I have been.  I look forward to when this Saturday morning is over more than you know!!!  In my mind, it means that my training is essentially complete.  I have ran as far as I will have before the real race.  Of course then I will just start worrying about the actual race and staying healthy and strong.  On that note, I’m going to try my best to let this be the last time I say anything negative.  I need to focus on the positive and picture myself completing this goal that I’ve worked so hard for.  My dad so kindly reminded me of this and he’s right.  He told me to omit failure from my vocabulary and visualize success.  He told me not to give any of my time, energy or ability to absorb anything from anyone that isn’t mentally imaging positive things for me on my behalf.  I loved this.  He’s right.  From here on out I will surround myself with positive people who want the best for me.  I will visualize myself running the race healthy and strong and crossing the finish line of my first marathon.  I will soak in the crowd and welcome the anticipation of what lies ahead.  I will never have these moments back so I must make the very best of them.  How many times can I say, “I’m about to run my first marathon?”  This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I thank God for getting me to where I am today.  As for Saturday’s training run, bring it on!  It’s going to be hard and it’s going to hurt but I’m mentally strong and ready to conquer my goals.