Final Exam
For me, marathon training is like taking a college course. You start the term with a week by week plan. Some weeks look tougher than others. You usually have to take a couple of tests and mid-terms (tune-up races) as you go along. You get nervous as you study for the final exam (tapering), but once you're actually taking the final (running the marathon), you settle down. And once you're done with the exam, it's usually time for some well deserved vacation (recovery period after a marathon).
I guess the analogy breaks down in one place, though: I know I drank a lot more beer in college than I do now.
I find myself two days before my third go at the California International Marathon, and it really is starting to become a year-end tradition like fall term finals used to be. After running three "slow" marathons so far this year, I think of CIM as the real measuring stick. I've been training harder -- will I be able to improve over last year's 3:03:13 (which seems impossible to me)?
Can I break 3:00?
In the end though, my thoughts turn more towards the vacation I have planned afterwards. Unlike in college, I know I've done my preparation, and I'll just wait and see how the chips fall.