Anticipation

I can see it now…….the light at the end of the tunnel. It could be beautiful. It could be majestic. It could be an uplifting experience which I will treasure for all the days of my life. Or it could be a train bearing down on me that leaves me mangled on the side of the road. Only time will tell. Actually in about 40 hours I will know.

This marathon has not been something I have been itching to do. After all of my leg troubles leading up to the St. Jude Marathon and the resulting dismal performance (thanks in part to the fever and infection I had), I temporarily had the delusion that I would make this race my Boston attempt. But all it took was one speed workout that resulted in my leg pain flaring up to destroy that fantasy. At least for now.

So now my anticipation for this race has changed. It is not that “Oooohhh, I can’t wait to get to the starting line” type of race.

It is more of a “Are we there yet/I can’t wait to get to the finish line” type of race.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am ready to get it over with. I am already imagining the random, painful, exciting workouts and exercises I will be doing after the race. With my current training, I can only do so much because I needed to save and protect my legs for my run workouts. Not after Sunday.

If I want to wreck my body doing hill repeats on my bike in St. Francisville, I am going to do it. If I want to go to the pool (which I haven’t been to since April, 2009) and swim 10,000 yards just to see if I can, then I will do it. If I want to do leg presses at the gym until I need assistance using the bathroom, then I will do it. Because I don’t have to run the next day.

So this race will be the end of a long 18 months of concentrated run training. And even though my motivation level is nil right now, I still plan on giving it my all. Susan has an ambitious race plan for Sunday, and I have decided I will do everything I can to help her achieve it. Because I can afford to take a break after this race. I am not signed up for two Ironman triathlons, the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, and who knows what else (Hee hee Susan!)