The Head Game

I've come up with the course for tomorrow's 22 mile run.  Slow and easy - those are my watch words.  I have had a hard work out week and I'm not trying to break any speed records.

Honestly, I just want to get this next marathon done.  I want to do well.  And by well, I mean PR (PR means to get a personal record, or beat my previous best time).  The competitive side of me really, REALLY wants to get a 4:03:00.  The realist in me knows that I haven't trained to get that kind of time.

The mental game for me is this:  pull back, stay healthy and get to the finish line.  That is a big challenge.  I like to go hard, push harder and knock all my paces out of the ballpark.

I am sitting here reviewing the course and wondering if I can do it.  I've done it before.  I ran 20 miles just 2 weeks ago.  But that is never the same.  I won't really believe I can do it until about mile 21.

With the crazy training of this particular marathon, one of my favorite quotes has taken on new meaning:

90% of running is mental.

The other 10% is in your head.

Yep.