I am so incredibly nervous. In 4 days, I am running my first 1/2 marathon. I have never run 13.1 miles and will not until the day of my race. The longest distance I have run is 11 miles and it was not pretty. I had run two ten milers before my 11 miler and felt pretty good about both of those. 11 . . . not so much.
Anyway, everyone has been so encouraging and I am so very afraid I am going to disappoint them! Everyone thinks I am going to finish way under the time that I set for myself (granted, it's ridiculously slow for me) but I just don't see it.
One of the sponsors sent out an email today about picking up our race packets and I immediately wanted to go in the bathroom and hurl. Yes, I know that all I have to do is finish and my finishing time will be my best 1/2 marathon time ever! Yes, I know that it's all in my head and as long as I finish that's all that matters. Yes, I realize this is my first 1/2 marathon and so I shouldn't put so much pressure on myself. My problem is I run with guys that have run 1/2 marathons already. They are a full foot taller than me and have bigger strides and I always feel like I am slowing them down or not running to their standards. They are so nice about it - saying it doesn't matter, that they enjoy the company, that their legs are tired anyway so they need a not so aggressive pace today. I appreciate them saying those things, but I feel that deep down, they really wish I would pick up the pace. So, I am ALWAYS putting pressure on myself about running. I know no females who like to work out like I do so I always end up working out with dudes. I don't mind, but it would be nice to have a female work out buddy every now and then. But then again, I find girls to be irritating and overly silly sometimes too. Oh and I can say that because I am a girl! But I guess if another female enjoyed working out as much as I do, then she probably wouldn't be so silly.
We have this hill near my office. We call it the hill from hell. We run it on occasion. It starts out so gradually that you almost don't know that you are running up hill. Then you turn the corner and there it is, the uphill climb that keeps going and going and you turn a corner and you are still going up and up. And the worst part? Our trek doesn't include a turn around so that we get the benefit of running down it! Granted, there are some down hill parts but we don't run down the hill from hell. I would probably fall on my face anyway.
Anyway, I digress. I think I am going to be a hot mess Sunday morning, eating my bagel and banana, while chugging water. My husband was going to run the 1/2 too but bailed because he didn't think he could be ready in time. He is right - I have been running for years, even if only short distances and he has just recently gotten serious. Smart of him to realize it and change his plan. He picked a 1/2 in November and is training for it. I cannot believe either one of us is running a 1/2 this year. It's incredible and scary all at the same time. Wish me luck!
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