Hi all,
So if you're following my program, this weekend is the longest training session of the season (and if you're doing the Galloway version, next weekend is it). Hopefully by now, you've gained some confidence over many other training sessions, and it's all starting to crystalize that you might be able to cross that finish line after all! The real fun part is in 2 weeks when you "only" go 5 miles. You'll know how far you've come when you can say to someone, "Oh I only have to go 5 miles, piece of cake!"
I've mentioned it in passing, but use these last few long runs as a dress rehearsal for the race. While they always tell brides "something old, something new," etc, your motto for race day should be "Nothing New." You should know what shoes, socks, shorts, sports bra, shirt, glasses, Gu/Powergel flavors, etc you'll be racing in, and you should have worn them previously. If you're going to race in the sparkle skirt, I'd suggest doing at least one run in it beforehand. If you're going to need new running shoes, make sure you get them soon and do some training in them, don't wear them running for the first time in the race!. If you want to be slightly anal about it, make a list of everything you'll need. Lay everything out the night before to make sure, and then all you have to do is double-check you've packed the list when you go to Florida.
That carries over into the actual running part of it as well. If you're doing the run/walk intervals in your training, plan on those same intervals during the race. Every now and then someone will tell me they've done run/walk intervals during training, but they want to run the whole race. I try as best I can to convince them that what's worked in training will work in the race, why throw a big unknown in there? For your first half, your main goal is to cross the finish line with a smile on your face. Worry about pace, running the whole distance, etc in your 2nd, 3rd, or other races when you know what you've gotten yourself into.
And most importantly, be proud of what you've already accomplished. You took on this challenge, and despite winter storms, sickness, injury, and whatever other challenges you might have faced, you're still persevering and you're going to make it. If you've been following the schedule, you've run about 290 miles! That's an amazingly long way to travel on foot! Ever traveled from Washington DC to New York City? That's only 230 miles, you could have run there!
Keep up the good work, the hard work is nearly done and then the fun part (tapering and then the race!) will be here soon!
Gary
