"BLACK and BLUE"

Hurry guys, I hear there's a large gorilla on display in the theatre district!!! What could possibly go wrong???


Ahhh... Finally, I can begin tapering for the big day which is now less than two weeks away. I started training for this marathon back in March and to date have ran 150 times for 180hrs, 49minutes, and 6 seconds at an average speed of 5.7mph. During that time I have logged 1026.73miles and burned 140,643calories. But who's counting??? Last Saturday I ran my longest training run ever (21miles) at 8:55pace. That's about 10 seconds faster than I will need to run the 26.2, if I want to run a sub-4hr marathon. Will I finally reach my goal on the fifth attempt??? Let's look at the pros and cons...


Pros:

1.) I have been well trained by two extraordinary coaches, thanks to Richard and Jackie. Without both of you I would still be sitting on the couch watching the T.V. using my belly as a place to set my food plate.

2.) I am 22 pounds lighter than I was in February. This should help for obvious reasons.

3.) After 4 marathons I have a familiarity for what to expect. Trust me, it really is the last six miles that's the real test.

4.) Mentally I'm stronger. Unless I have an unforeseen injury, or I wake up with the green apple squirts on race day my body will not be able talk my brain into quitting along the course ever again.

5.) My race day outfit and shoes are "Fabulous"!!! They match my theme for this race. Black and Blue, like the course will be after I tear it up on November 7th.

6.) Crowd support, there will be close two million people along the marathon route cheering the approximate 45,000 runners on.


Cons:

1.) Heat and humidity...I don't think this will happen, but caused me to cramp at mile 20 right here in Sarasota in 2009!!!

2.) Hills...Downfall at Philly last year, after a great first half I walked a good portion of the second half. My thighs felt shredded to the point where I couldn't get myself to run!!!

3.) Severe cold...Ironically, slowed me down at Disney. Running the half the day before probably hurt a little also!!!

4.) Exhaustion... Running Philly in Nov, Disney half and full in Jan., and then Ft. Lauderdale in Feb. was just too much for my body to recover from. I was looking good in Ft. Lauderdale and on pace for a sub-4 until mile 20, the legs went away and I sadly watched the 4 hour pacer run by me and off into the sunset. I finished in 4:07, my best finish to date, yet the hardest one to get out of my mind. The agony, to be six miles from my goal and to watch it slip away!!!

I hear mixed opinions on how past races should be viewed. Some say... forget about them, the past is the past. Others say... let them be lessons to learn from. I think both have there merits. I believe I learn and experience something from each and every run I've taken. While all may not be great experiences, they are experiences none the less. This is how I plan on treating the New York Marathon next weekend. Just another running experience... That leaves either myself, or the course Black an Blue. Hopefully the latter!!!

Run In Peace!!!