(no subject)
Time: 9:15am
51 minutes
ughhh... I did not have a good run today. I really think I'm psyching myself out too much.... Today my body and my mind were telling me "I can't do this!" and I'll just have to prove them wrong on Sunday. I'll prove them wrong if it's the last thing I do! Seriously, I felt lethargic today... It probably didn't help that I was laying in bed for 20 minutes right before my run... I was tired, though! I felt like a 250-pound woman today, trying to run... or a turtle. I just felt so slow... I stopped and walked after four miles to get a sense again for the run/walk thing and then my last mile was the fastest and the easiest. I am definitely definitely doing run/walk on Sunday.
My ankles hurt today... I think I should have gotten new shoes but it's too late now. My knees hurt, too. I'm icing them right now. I just iced my lower back for about 15 minutes and my back is what I'm most worried about. It's been hurting lately, even when I'm not running, and today I felt the pain after only a few miles... my back is what holds me up, it CAN'T hurt during the marathon! I'm going to ice it every day, and take ibuprofen, and buy some Icy Hot to put on it before the race. I wish there was something magical I could do to loosen it up before the race, like some magic massage or stretching technique.
The first three miles of every run is so hard, and I always feel like I've never run before! Thankfully, most accounts by people who've run a marathon say you don't even notice the first few miles because there's so much going on. Boy I hope so. I just need to think positive, and mentally prepare myself for it to be a GREAT experience. I'm just so nervous! And I know I'll probably be on my own for most of it.... I've been on my own for all of the runs before, but this is different. I'm kind of thinking I'm dumb to be doing this when I've never even run a real race before. I'm worried about the water stations. I'm worried about being the last person to finish. I mean, somebody has to be last, right? I know people finish in five and six hours, and I want to do it in like four and a half (but if I don't finish by then, I'm not going to get down on myself!), but I'm still worried there won't be any of those slower people in this race. (out of 40,000) I know I'm silly.
Anyway, about being on my own... Christi is starting with me (thank God) but I don't know how long she's going to go. I might meet up with that Jessica girl, but I'm using run/walk and I don't think she is. I might beat her, she might beat me, but when I'm taking walk breaks and she's not, we won't be able to run together. I'll pass her, then she'll pass me, blah blah blah. I'm going to ask my brother, Dan, to meet me at the 20-mile marker and run a few miles with me. I think I'll really need some motivation at that point, seeing as though I've never gone that far before.
Today I have a lot to do before my class at 4:30, and I want to stop at SportMart and see if I can find a new shirt to wear for the marathon. That's another thing I'm worried about. It's going to be COLD, but I want to wear a tank top. I can't put something over my tank top because then my bib won't show. Maybe I could wear a zip up something that I could toss off when I get hot... I hate breathing in the cold... it makes my nose run and my eyes water. I think I'll feel a little better about the whole thing once I get to the expo on Friday or Saturday, and then maybe take a look at the course, at least the starting line. It's all just so new to me and I'm freaking out!
Man, this has been a loony entry.. I'm sorry. I needed to vent a bit.