9 days.

I cannot believe race day is almost here, eeek!  I am super excited, nervous, terrified, confident and calm about it… all at the same time.

I finished my last dreaded track workout this week.  As much as I hate doing them, I am kind of surprised that I only skipped one all season.  During week 1 the workout starts at 4x800s at 630-640 minute mile pace with  a 400 rest in between each one at race pace.  As you get closer to race day, the 800s get up to TEN repeats.  THAT IS OVER 7 MILES ON THE TRACK.  I mean seriously, talk about torture.  But in the two years I have been doing these, I have noticed the positive results.  So even though I hate them with a fiery passion,  I do them.  When I was on my last 800, I visualized that I was on the last stretch of my marathon.  I envisioned coming into the shoot, people cheering around me, seeing familiar faces…and then I visualized how it would feel to see my goal time on the clock.   My adrenaline automatically spiked, I had goosebumps and I ran my last 800 20 seconds under pace.  I may have even teared up a little.  Get it together, Jill.

run

Do I want to qualify next Saturday?  Of course.  Have I put lots of hard work into getting faster? You bet.  BUT, I have decided that I am not running this race to qualify any more.  I am running it for fun.  I am running it in hopes of getting a PR.  I am just going to go out and run it, period.  No expectations, no pressure, that is when I always do my best.  Almost every time I have had a PR of any kind, lifting, running etc.  It has not been on purpose.   For example, when doing any kind of heavy lifting or finding my 1 rep max, I have a weird habit of not counting the weight.  When I don’t know the weight I am lifting,  it is easier for me to not think about how heavy it is.  I just try to focus on the movement.  As soon as I know what the weight is…I doubt myself and then I panic.  Weak sauce.

My awesome lifting partner Lorraine, is such a good sport with me.  She always makes sure to never count out loud when we are going up in weight and she also tends to yell at people when they say the number out loud around me, it is kind of hilarious and pathetic all at the same time.  LZ -you are the bomb.

If I get my time next week, awesome.   If I don’t, oh well.   It’s just another long run, what’s the big deal? I am going to hopefully make friends with my pace group, pray that they have lots to chat about and let my training speak for itself.

trail

Unfortunately, my motivation station (Shain) will be out of town for the day of the race,  which at first I was slightly panicked about.  But he can also be a littttttle intense on on my race days (no regrets Jill! Listen to this video Jill! Get angry Jill!), so perhaps this will help go into this like a regular run;)   If any of you want to watch the easiest marathon to spectate, come on out.  It is a 5k course 8 times- so you can just plop a lawn chair out, eat, drink and laugh at all us crazy people that pass by you a million times.   I asked Sylvester Stallone and Optimus Prime if they could come cheer me on, but I guess they were busy.

 

 

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