Today I ran 8 miles in 56:21. I ran my usual warm-up to 8.1 mph, then ran the next 3 miles at 8.1 mph. I ran the last four miles at 9.0 mph (6:39 mile pace) but did not increase it for the final mile until the last 200 meters.
Today was a good run. I needed that faster than marathon at a sustained pace for confidence. It is not what my assignment was, but I knew it would be helpful to me in the race.
We are ten days from the race. Normally I never get nervous until the day before the race, and usually the evening before. But I have some nervousness creeping in. It is not overwhelming, but it is present. It is just a race, and people who do not have a clue will say, "Why worry about it, just have fun." Well, while I do want to definitely have fun, I want to do well. True, as my first marathon no matter how I run it will be a PR. But in this race I am not satisified with just getting a PR. I picked this race because it is, on average, mostly flat. Nothing to say, "the hills were really hard" or something else. It just me against the course. Nothing in my favor and nothing against me (though the first half is far more hilly than the race organizers let on, including an almost 1 mile hill climb at mile 7...but I get to run down it on the other side). And though I have run a 50 mile ultra marathon previously, that just is not the same thing. Endurance is the main battle there. With a marathon, it is endurance AND speed. Not 5k speed, but speed nevertheless. It really shows just how good of a runner you are. It proves you as a runner. Will all my training pay off? Will I be able to perform as I have trained?
(My fellow runners at work all have guesses as to my overall time. The most generous is 3:10, while the least optimistic is 3:25. 3:25 is not a bad marathon time, but it is not what I have trained for.)
You have worked hard and your body is ready! You just have to wrap your mind around that concept! I have faith in you that you will do well AND enjoy yourself too!! Love you! :)
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