Almost Here...

Ready or not, here it comes. Marathon - Take 2 is on for this weekend. I can't say that my training in the 3 weeks that were sandwiched between LBCM and this race were ideal, but hey, at least I'm well rested. Actually, with the baby coming last weekend, running time has been pretty precious, so when I have been able to hit the roads, it's been quality stuff, but the mileage hasn't gotten out of the 30's in any of the weeks since LBCM.

Having said that, I think physically, 6 minute pace is still something I can handle on race day if the conditions are OK. Now when I say conditions, the only thing that is really going to matter is the wind. Since this race is run entirely on the lakefront, the wind will be a factor, but hopefully it will be manageable. Also, since it's a 3 loop course, any time I spend with the wind in my face will eventually be repaid with a tail wind. However, windy days don't make for even splits, so I'd just assume that there isn't much of it. However, as we saw a few weeks ago, there isn't much you can do about race day weather.

Mentally, I'm a little worried. Not because I'm lacking confidence. I'm confident enough that I can run a solid race. What I'm most worried about is what's gonna happen at mile 23, when I'm beat, and all I have to go on is that mental toughness? There is a feeling that I get at the end of nearly every marathon. One where every fiber in your body is telling you to stop, but you have to keep going. That marathon fatigue is the one thing that I feel like takes the longest to truly recover from. Maybe it won't come to that. Maybe this will be one of those races, where I just cruise the whole time. A boy can dream.

and I just have to show the course map for this race. This is kind of the Anti-Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon. No high tech website, no 10,000 of runners, no half mile water stops. Oh yeah, and no 85 degree temperatures either. YES.