Words of Encouragement

Time is moving on and the race day is creeping closer. Two weeks today and I will be on my way to Honolulu to run my first full marathon.

8 months have passed since the decsion to do this, and within all the excitement, now some of the nerves are starting to show. With the struggle I've been having with the long runs lately, I'm really absorbing now how far 42km actually is and how big of a challenge I am about to face. Some days I feel great, convincing myself that this is all about the experience and I'm doing this for myself. Other days, I ask myself "what the hell am I doing?!?".

I love challenges. I love sport. I love being pushed to my limits just to see how much further I can go past them. And I have to keep reminding myself of this because some days I'm just not sure I'm ready for this. My biggest fear of course is that 42km is longer than I could have imagined and it's just too far for me to do. Have I trained enough? Did I push hard enough? Will I have it in me? What if I can't do it? What if it's too far?

I got some great advice today that has lifted my spirits and instilled some much needed encouragement.

• One mile at a time. You can't race the next one until you get to it so focus on where you are as opposed to where you've got to go.
• Conserve your energy. The Ironman or the Marathon is all about what you have left, not on what you've done.
• It will be hot later on so take advantage of early water stops and drink at every station.
• Take the first half slower than you think you should be going. It's a long way and the energy you save will come in very handy. If you spend it then you will lose more time struggling at the end.
• Run your race, this will be about you and how you feel and how you felt. All the others on the course are dong their race so don't get caught up at all in what's going on around you.
• Let the crowd, if there is one, encourage you.
• Run with a smile, it will make you feel better.
• Keep your shoulders loose and low, don't have them creeping upward...this is a natural tendency but it tends to take more energy when you are tense.
• It may be cool in the early stages as it starts in the dark. Don't over-dress, just take a throw-away tee shirt if you have to as the heat will increase and you won't want an expensive top tied around your waist.

I'm told that the nerves will go the second the gun goes off, so I'm not expecting to get over them anytime before then. Until then, I will do one more long run this weekend, then just short runs after that to keep loose and keep fit.

I can't wait to see what happens.

Thanks Greg.

S.