One Month to Go...

The reality of the race (and the insanity that goes along with it) is actually starting to sink in. I have a countdown on my google webpage that shows up every time I open my internet browser and in big blue numerals is shouts at me the number of days I have left until I tackle this uphill battle. (Okay...so it isn't really uphill. Actually, the Philly course is pretty flat and that is why it is typically such a good course for beginners.) But...I went to open my google today and there it was. 31 days until the Philadelphia Marathon.

Am I crazy? I thought. Okay, I have thought that many times throughout this process. The debacle in Chicago certainly did not up the sanity measure...but I've been assured by my wise older brother that Philly won't make the same mistake of running out of water by the second water stop. (Just so you know...that is before the 3 mile mark!) The good thing is, the anxiety has not overtaken the excitement. My training feels better than ever, despite the higher than ever distances I'm traversing. Eight miles yesterday felt like one of the best workouts I ever had it my life. The weather was perfect and I finally got to enjoy some quality fall foliage. Sixteen miles is a very do-able distance for me. And really, if I can run 16 miles...what is another 10 more? This weekend I am hitting the road for an 18 mile. Many coaches say that making the jump from 18 to 26.2 is very manageable. While they are probably right, I am taking it on some good advice that attempting a 20-miler before the big day is worth it. Why? Big-round numbers scare people. This is true. Ten miles seemed more daunting than 9 miles. Twenty seems so much farther than 18. So why don't I get it out of the way before race day when I will have plenty of other things to worry about. And then...really...what's six more miles?

With that said...31 days until the Philadelphia Marathon!