3 Sleeps

(Thanks Marlene for the good blog post title ;))

3 sleeps and 12 miles are all that separate me and the starting line at the Long Beach Marathon on Sunday.  Wow, it came fast!  Tapering has not been easy (not that any of you don't know that) but I feel like I have really kept a level head this week (level being relative) and I'm hoping that it will bring me peace when I toe the line.

One second I'm jazzed and tell myself I'm ready - the next, I'm doubting myself, telling myself to hold back and just run it for fun, or better yet, the terror of running 26.2 miles at all makes me want to puke.  I know I can cover the distance, it's the fast part that is killing me. 

Monday I got on the treadmill and ran 8 miles at a comfortable pace.*  When I was finished I felt renewed and ready.  I went about my day and then...the Giants were in the bottom of the 7th and trailing!  I was freaking out!  If you don't know, I'm a huge San Francisco Giant's fan.  Actually I love baseball, but my Giant's are doing awesome this year.  Finally, by the 8th they took the lead and it was down to 6 outs!  Argh!  I was freaking out!  So, I jumped on the treadmill to watch the last 6 outs and channel my anxiety!  Those three miles were NOT on the taper schedule, but it felt oh so good to be pounding out some miles as they captured their victory!  Whoo hoo!  I love me some post season baseball!

Tuesday I had 7 miles on the schedule with 3 at MP.  Sounds easy enough.  So again, I jumped on the old mill and ran great!  I did a nice warm up, 3.5 miles at an 8:30 pace then hit my MP miles feeling ready.  I actually ran 2.5 at MP and then sped it up for the last at a 7:52 pace.  Again, it felt good, comfortable...doable.  But anything is doable for 7 miles.  Anything is even doable for 13.1.  It's the 26.2 miles that is throwing me for a loop.

If denial was an island, I would save up the cash to buy it.  That is where I find myself most of the day this week.  I forget I'm even running on Sunday, then, like a flash it enters my mind and I'm back to square one doubting everything.  Taper does crazy things to your head.  I'm hungry as hell, anxious, feel every bone from my feet to my hips, and doubt the last 14 or so weeks of training.  Why do we do this again?

On the positive side, I'm excited to have a mini-vacay with my Mamma!  Since Ari can't go with me, my Mamma decided to step up and come with!  She is like the super fan you always want on your side.  You can do no wrong, she says all the right things in the right moment, and well, who wouldn't want their Mamma with them?  We're going to head down early on Saturday morning, hit up the expo and hopefully have dinner with L.B. (resident Long Beach expert and he's running the Long Beach half! Go L.B.!)  And a ton of Bay Area friends and blog peeps are running the full and half, too!  I can't wait to see all of them!  Plus, looks like the weather is going to be cooperating and perfect for running!

With my reservation set, my race confirmed, and all plans set in motion, all I need now is to let go and run on Sunday.  I need to quit analyzing everything.  I need to quit worrying and enjoy the experience.  I want to look back and say that I did everything in my power to meet my goal: which includes staying positive and not letting taper brain take away from the experience.

I'm off to get another 7 miler in with some MP miles.  I had a rest day yesterday and all my legs want to do is run, run and RUN!  I'm going to run 5 tomorrow and take Saturday as a rest day - I do really well when I have a rest day between races.  I'll check in with all of you tomorrow, and I will be sure to wish all of you running and racing this weekend, GOOD LUCK!

*lots of dreadmill running this past week - there is another crazy on the loose and the hubbs is not liking me running outside at the moment :(  Boo!
Off to catch up with all of you!  Again, congrats to all of you Chi-town finishers - you are HARD CORE in my book!
Happy Thursday and Happy Running peeps!