Today was my last semi-long run before the Seattle Marathon. I have to admit that I got a little emotional near the end of the run, not because I’m PMSing (TMI?), but because of the progress I have made over the past year. I’ve completed eight organized half marathons, over a dozen half marathons on my own, and several long runs ranging from 16 miles to 23 miles. And never shut down.
Now, as I near the end of my journey to the Seattle Marathon, I get to taper, rest, and let my body rejuvenate before the race. I also get to reflect upon and anticipate what will happen on race day. All this effort. All this energy. All this mental challenge. What will the outcome be?
As I ran today, I took the time to reflect on my training and how it would all play out in nine days. What I have come to realize is that every run I completed since March (when I started my 2013 training) has lead me to where I am today. EVERY SINGLE RUN is part of a gift I will give to myself on December 1. Whether three miles or twenty three miles, whether hot and sunny, or cold and rainy, whether I was having an “off” day or feeling like I could run forever, all of those moments WILL make me what I am during the run in Seattle. When that gun goes off at the starting line, I will be opening a gift, and inside that gift will be the culmination of every run during the last nine months…and that is awesome.
I took it all in today. It was cold…like, I can’t feel my feet cold. But I loved every minute. I was in my zone – happy, content, and thankful.
I ran through the Old Mill, up Reed Market past the Athletic Club, and turned on the path parallel to the Cascades Lakes Highway toward Mt. Bachelor. After a mile, I dropped down to the river trail and completed the loop around back to the Old Mill. Because of the cold weather I felt as though I had the entire trail to myself, only passing one other person (the cold and ice may have had something to do with it). For me, it was perfect.
I headed back up Reed Market onto Mt. Washington, and circled around back down Century Drive, eventually passing the Deschutes Brewery (I almost made a pit stop at the smell of hops), and back through the Old Mill. When I finished I was surprised to see that I had completed 9 miles at a 7:30 pace. I felt great. If only I can only feel that good for the Marathon – thank goodness for adrenaline!
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