Saturday, March 20, 2010

Before the race...



So here it is, the night before the Seoul International Marathon.  This will be my third full Marathon and it has  been 6 months since my last one.  Since then I've trained consistently and I've seen steady improvement in my speed as a result.  I am very confident that, barring any accidents, I will successfully meet the goal I set months ago: "Run a marathon in under 4 hours".

Now it's time for the race jitters.  Worrying about eating enough to have strength but not too much to be bloated the next day or even worse.  P.O.T.  (Hashers will know this as potty on trail).  After writing this I will start to get my things together in a ritualistic fashion to make sure I have everything. gels, glide, clothes etc.

Being away from my wife and children has been difficult these past months. Running is what I have used to focus my mind and keep balanced.  I read about running to gain knowledge on how to become a better runner.  I watch videos and listen to advice from other runners.   No matter what the outcome of the race, at the end of the day I will be able to look myself in the mirror and say "It was worth it. I gave it my best shot".

Truth be known, I hope to do better than just under 4 hours tomorrow.  How much better?  I'm keeping that to myself for now. Time to lay out my race gear for tomorrow, lie down, and try to sleep.  I seldom do the night before...

2 comments:

  1. Ken, Good luck! You are an inspiration and I know you will beat that 4 hour mark on the wall. You make me want to get out and run!

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