The marathon is slowly taking control over my thoughts. This week I’ve found that I think about it more and more as the day gets closer.
Yesterday when the New York Road Runner’s announced there would not be any baggage check for participants unlike many runners I didn’t get upset like hundreds of other runners. Instead I had a mini freakout, picturing myself in the death march that is the finish line of the New York City Marathon.
If you aren’t familiar with this race, the surprising thing is that just after the finish line runners are herded up Central Park West for a mile inside the park before they can exit the race. The space becomes amazingly crowded and claustrophobic. I distinctly remember crying for at least 1/2 the walk when I ran this race nine years ago.
It’s not the death march I’m really afraid of this go ’round it’s pretty much everything else. I know there are more important things in life, but this 26.2 really scares me.
I think I’ve been training decently hard, but I don’t really even know if my time goal is within reach or if it’s realistic. For the next several weeks though I’m going to put all that behind me and focus on these three things.
#1 Not arriving at the starting line saying, ” I wish I had.”
#2 Train hard to race easy (not physically easy, but mentally easy by putting in the work now)
#3 “Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and think of what could go right.”
Amanda @ Click. The Good News says
I got that email too….I’m not too worried about it, hubby will be meeting me at finish line & I’ll have him pack sandals/sweats/whatever-I-need. I’m accustomed to wearing a fuelbelt, so I can be like a pack mule and carry my food, phone, and ten thousand other things. I feel bad for those runners not used to doing that. I’m getting excited- happy for the ever so slightly cooler temps in Houston for our 17 mile run next weekend 🙂
Cynthia says
Similar–I do my long runs with a camelbak, so I’m good to go to haul my stuff around NYC 😉
Caroline says
Great post! I saw that email, too, and thought of my experience at the Chicago Marathon. I didn’t check a bag/cell phone (even though they have a bag check) because I had planned a meeting place with my sister after I finished and thought that would be enough. That meeting place ended up being gated off for the first time this year, and I was without a cellphone wandering through a packed crowd, insanely sore/tired/emotional. I asked someone if I could borrow their phone, they said no, and then I proceeded to start to cry. Looking back now, I kind of laugh at it but it really sucked at the time. I think if I was running NYC this year I would just run with my phone. I ran all my training runs with my phone last year because I wasn’t familiar with the area I was living in at the time, so I was used to it and it didn’t really slow me down.
Anyways, I like your plan! You’re going to kill it!
Jess says
Hell, if *I* got this 26.2 thing set straight in my head as a first-timer, you TOTALLY have this in the bag my friend. I mean really, you are a PRO at this stuff — trust yourself, trust your body, trust your training and most of all? Run with joy!!
Jody - Fit at 54 says
I love that quote & your view on this – a great one!!! When I did 5K’s when I was younger – the thing I disliked the most – the crowds! 😉