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October 22, 2007
6 to go
Yesterday was a perfect running day. The leaves have changed, and they crunch under your feet. The sky was brillant blue, but the air was cool. It's the sort of fall day that makes you glad your a runner.
That's what I kept telling myself. Look around. It's beautiful out. You should be glad you are a runner. You should be glad you are a runner. You should be glad you are a runner.
NEWSFLASH
I wasn't really all that glad I was a runner.
The company was awesome, in fact if it wasn't for them, I would of set up home in a pile of leaves obeying squirrel law til spring.
I think my body has finally clued into what I plan to make it do on Sunday. It's not onboard with the plan.
I struggled to keep an 11 minute pace. My legs felt tired and sore. My feet. They are really pissed. I'm pretty sure I have at least 4 syndromes I'm ignoring. I had to work really hard to keep going. Then at the end, when I looked at my garmin, I realised I would have to run another 11 miles. You have to be kidding me. I didn't even want to crawl into the back seat of a car and be driven 11 miles.
I haven't been on the "I'm angry with the Chitown organizers" train. Shit happens. But I was physically and mentally ready on October 7th. I suppose I should be angry at mom nature, or global warming. The point is I was ready then, I am not so ready now. I think I need to downgrade my expectations. I need a new realistic goal.
Which might be, just have fun ... which should be easy, here's the email from the Race Director I got this morning.
Six Days to the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon.
We ran the course yesterday. Everything looked great. We even had a roving aid station organized by Terence's wife Tina. Nice. Chocolate chip cookies too!!
Today I'm going to download the database and take it over to Joe at Classic Race Management so he can finish assigning numbers.
Which brings me to a story about our packet pickup chair, Kathy Haase--
Last year, I sent her the runner list so she could get her staff ready. She sent me back an email, telling me that she had sorted it by race and alphabetically so she could post it for people to look up their numbers.
"WHAT?? I didn't know we even asked RACE on the application! How did you do that? What difference does it make what color anyone is anyway?" She really had me wondering for a minute there.
"NO, YOU IDIOT. By "race" I mean Full Marathon or Half Marathon."
"Oh. Never mind."
And now, a word or two about this weekend. Many of you are going to have questions. On the website, check the FAQ page, the Relay page, or the Race Day Info page. You'll notice something on the Race Day page that you don't usually see at all those other marathons. See if you can figure it out.
and the adventure continues....
Don
Posted by Ali at October 22, 2007 8:36 AM
Comments
ha! funny about the "race" category.
i'm sorry about the race that didn't really happen, it's sucks to be settle for consolation prize sometimes. your legs will remember.
Posted by: deene at October 22, 2007 10:48 AM
I think chocolate chip cookies should be at every aid station.
I'm writing to the Denver Marathon RD now.
Posted by: Tea at October 22, 2007 1:41 PM
Hmm, I guess the only way I'm getting the cookies is to bring a pint with me?
Posted by: Tea at October 22, 2007 1:45 PM
I think you're right Tea ... and I think he might be serious!
I'm going to get something at our local brewery for him.
Posted by: Ali at October 22, 2007 1:48 PM
Sounds like a really fun race. Just have fun with it and everything will fall into place!
Posted by: Amy at October 22, 2007 2:38 PM
I know exactly how you feel. While I DO love running...sometimes I'm just not feelin' it.
But you're going to have so much fun at this marathon...I can just feel it.
Posted by: Allison at October 23, 2007 12:04 PM
I have to say, after just doing a debacle of a race myself, it's hard to get your mind straight before the next race but it's sooooo important. You have a great support system and so many people who believe in you. Just enjoy the view and the knowledge that you are accomplishing something so many others can only dream of doing.
Posted by: Amanda at October 24, 2007 10:15 AM
Who wouldn't like a race with roving chocolate chip cookies?
Posted by: Andria at October 24, 2007 5:03 PM