#9

Less than 12 hours before I'll be toeing the line at Marathon #9. As much as I'd like to say it's just a long training run, or that I'm really just using it to prep for NYC, the fact remains that this is the real deal. This is a marathon. 26.2 miles. Go long or go home. So I do have some thoughts before I tuck in for the night and embark on the highway east to Tyler for this adventure.

First off, the goals.  Yes, I have goals for this, even if I primarily am viewing it as a "training run."

• Goal A, of course, as always, is finish upright and smiling, grab my medal and my rose plant and skedaddle on home. 
• Goal B is a little more ambitious, and involves me hitting the first 22 miles of this at NYC race pace, then letting the chips fall where they may for the last 4.2 miles, even if that means walking it in and scoring another 6+ hour effort. 
• Goal C is that big one. My ever-elusive white whale (gawd, I hated that stupid book and still haven't read it all the way through): the 5:00 finish. 

My training paces the last two months indicate that if I could string together 26 consecutive miles at my fastest times tracked that I could finish anywhere between 4:30 and 5:05.  I know the 4:30 isn't necessarily realistic, especially not given the elevation of this route.  But the 5:05 is certainly attainable. I know it's been attainable the last few go-rounds. And I can talk all day about this being a supported training run, but you know that if when I hit mile 22 and I am anywhere near pace to hit that 5:00 mark, I am going to drop the gloves and go for it. I have to. If I'm not close, then I'm going to hold back and save the legs for the streets of New York.  But I'm not going to count it out entirely. We just shall have to see what happens between the start and mile 22.

Meanwhile, I definitely want to give a shout out to all the people who have been supporting me throughout this journey, starting with my family. They've put up with me being absent on Sunday mornings while I meet up with friends for long runs, with me commandeering the last slices of wheat bread for my PB& honey sandwiches, with me being grumpy because I'm missing a run. Bottom line, I just couldn't do this without your love and patience and understanding - I couldn't.

I also want to thank all my friends who have walked or run with me in the last six months. I have gained so much energy and strength from each of you, and I really want to thank you for sharing the road, sidewalk and trails with me.  And to my virtual friends, who have supported me and eased my doubts and shared my highs and lows, many, many thanks to all of you as well, especially for those of you who will be out on your own races tomorrow.  Let's do this thing, shall we?