Patience; the new endurance sport.

I keep expecting these smaller runs to be faster, or less effort, or easier.  I'm averaging 9:04's and feel pretty strong.  But the further out I get from my last long run, the more I doubt I can actually finish a marathon in good time.  I'm even wondering how I did so well at Moab Half Marthon. Did I reach peak condition a month ago? A marathon is always a huge undertaking each and everytime I do it. It's what makes it exciting.  Only this time around I've really put myself to the test.  I don't like pressure, but I really want to run this Marathon.  It's been hard -- the winter training, the bronchitis, the stress, the unexplained exhaustion.  I'm super excited about being with my FBR running buddies and my bestest East coast friends, brining my kids, being in Boson.  But the more I read about the course, the wind, the extreme weather, the hills...the more emails (and they come daily) from the BAA association warning about cardiovascular emergencies and heatstroke on the course, the more freaked I get.  The pressure is winding me up like a toy.  I just hope that pressure will lead to a solid effort on race day--come what may. I've had a fun time reading the history of the marathon.  I read a particular article about how bad atheletic shoes used to be at the turn of the century, and how bloody blistered feet could force a winning contender to drop out.  I have good shoes, I have done the training.  I have run in the snow, and in the rain, and in the wind.  My son asked me yesterday on the drive home what I was thinking about.  I had been imagining what I'd read about the course by 2 mile incriments and I was trying to remember which miles the writer had said 'this is the part you should be running the splits you'd planned on'.  I said "I was thinking about the race course and hoping I can finish well."  He looked at me from the reveiw mirror (as he does so often) and points with his chin down to my T-shirt which bore the slogan "JUST DO IT".  Well ok then.

I slept with the window partially open so I could hear the rain falling during the night.  I got out to run around 8 after everyone was gone to school, which was perfect. The sky was clearning in places and peeking bright spots of blue.  There were feathery clouds sticking like white cotton candy to the snows of Mt. Timpanogos.  The tree branches were wet and dark so all the new green buds seemed even more vibrant and tender.  It was a lush morning that reminded me of my childhood springtimes in San Diego; Mositure in the air and the smell of wet dirt.  This lovely scenario, was enjoyed more thouroughly because I left my Garmin hanging decidely in it's place at home.  I ran with my eyes closed part of time so I could listen to the river made newly fat by the rain and snow.  I love running just for the fun of it.  I haven't felt that in months.

I have never tapered for a Monday race before.  Normally it's so easy, 5,4,3,2, 2  But with the addition of SAturday and Sunday, I'm all confused.  So I've done 6, 5,5, and then tommorrow and beyond 4,3,2, 2?  I don't know what I'm doing.  I must be the dumbest runner to ever have been allowed to run the Boston Marathon.

I'm not gonna lie, getting ready for the Boston Marathon has been hard for me--but talking about the Boston Marathon (telling friends & family I'm running it), reading all about the Boston Marathon; the Route, the history,the history of running shoes, past Boston atheletes bio's & histories--- THAT has all been super fun.  I hope no one is terribly disapointed if I can't finish in under 4 hours, but this morning I was truly relishing the idea (running with a smile on my face even) that I was getting to run, had qualified to run in the oldest, most historical, most respected footrace in America.  The Boston Marathon always falls on Patiriot's Day (which we don't celebrate here) but which marks the day & celebrates the day Paul Revere rode through Boston to warn the minute men that the British were heading to Concord and Lexington for munitions.  The Boston Marathon is part of the patriot day celebrations first organized in the late 1800's.  In a way, it is like our own Provo Freedom Festival "Freedom Run" we so proud and fond of here in Utah.  But this is the real deal.  Patriot's day marks the beginning actions of our rebellion against taxation without representation, and initiated the incredible & miraculous series of battles that won this country its independence from the England..... And I get to run the most historic footrace in America to celebrate this with my best friends, good running buddies, my sister, and my children.  For better or worse-however the day/my performance/ the race goes down.  You can bet I will be relishing the sights, sounds, and experience of the Boston Marathon.  I'm officially psyched.

It's simple.  To make 3 miles seem fun, you've just got to run about six 50+ mile weeks in a row, including 2 speed work outs and one long run per week.  I loveed 3 miles!  I even did a few 100 foot sprints I felt so happy.  I am so ready for the Boston 5K.  By this time tommorrow I will be hunting Cannolies at Bova's. 

Got into Boston last night.  I woke up at 6:30, it was light already, but raining.  I put on my rain gear and ran from my friend's house to the Salem city Park by the bay.  I stood looking out toward Marblehead.  I just love it here. Nice, slow little 2 miler around the park smelling of ocean and spring rain.