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September 20, 2007
17 Days!
Seventeen days - jeepers creepers! Race day never seemed like it was going to arrive - especially during the dog days of summer where the humidity was so thick we could barely breathe. The humidity evaporated some time last week (even though the temps are still hanging around the high 80s in Chicago) as the crisp air swept in and stole its place. I love cooler weather and I am praying to my running goddesses that we have a cool (and windless!) day on October 7th.
I am supposed to be immersed in a marathon grading session that will take me into the wee hours of the morning, but I need a slight detour before I engage the pile of work on my desk. I am excited. Very excited. I do worry about the fact that I am so excited because sometimes that energy can backfire and slap us across the quads on race day. But it feels so awesome inside to know - really know - that I am ready to roll . . . I have never worked so hard in my running life and I am hopeful that it will show when I finally cross the finish line.
And, of course, I am scared shitless. I would be lying if I left it at the excitement part. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to be scared so long as we do not allow our fear to hold us back or seep into the dark crevices of our psyche. For now, I am swimming in positive visualizations and thoughts.
We had another solid workout this morning. We met at 5:10 AM for a 5 mile warm-up and then we did 2 x 1 mile, .5 mile, .5 mile. The goal was to run the first set with 45 seconds rest in between intervals and the second set with 30 seconds rest. H. assigned me the following times: 6:15 for the miles and 3:02 for the halves. I ended up running 6:12, 2:53, 2:56, 6:01, 3:00, 2:56. I felt ridiculously strong the second half of the workout and I really think I could have kicked it up a notch - which is a weird feeling! I am usually good for tempo runs and strength runs; workouts like the one we did today are NOT my forte . . . they tend to bury me because they require some fast-twitch muscle movement (of which I have very little!). The positive effects of the miles are going to start to shine . . . today was the first taste of that :)
So I guess I ought to grade papers now . . . I just needed to let my fingers dance about the race for a while.
Posted by bridget at September 20, 2007 9:32 AM
Comments
Waltz? Tango? Salsa? Tarantella? Shake? Jive?... Rock-and Roll?... you'll be so fine...
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at September 20, 2007 4:15 PM
You're going to be great! Enjoy the taper!
Posted by: AJ at September 21, 2007 10:02 AM
I'm so bummed I'm going to miss your run. I'll be in Haiti on the mission. Text me how you do. I have some scattered reception.
Posted by: TJ at September 27, 2007 9:51 PM
you're going to rock the house, woman!
all you have to do is hang around at the finish line for a good two and a half hours for a congratulatory hug from me. :)
Posted by: carrie g. at September 28, 2007 2:50 PM