Chicago Marathon Training: The Day Before, Goals

T-15 hours until marathon time.

I'm sitting in my hotel room, with KT tape on my hip, a bag of ice over it (held on with my flipbelt), watching Spirit of the Marathon. 

After an emotional week of stress, self-doubt, crippling fear that my hip would keep me from my goals, and all sorts of other baggage, I think I'm back in a good place. It took until 2:11pm on Friday, as we were taking off from ATL, for it to happen, but I finally got excited about the race. My hip felt fine enough after a few hours Thursday afternoon of crying, bourbon, crying, and then productive stuff, like stretching, PT, and icing. I had no more work tasks on the "to be done" list. Jerry had helped me figure out some essential logistics for the trip. Everything was done... and all we had to do was get there. 

We've had a great time with the rest of the ATC crew this weekend. 

deep-dish pizza at Lou Manati's 

cheering Jerry and others on in the 5K 

last training run with Brandi- a 2mi @ 10:07/mi along Lake Shore Drive

expo fun

architectural boat tour along the river

<3 buildings

As I look forward to tomorrow, I just want to run a good race. I don't want to feel injured. I want to feel strong. If I don't run a 9:XX pace, that's ok. If I don't PR by an hour, that's ok. I want to break 4:30. I can break 4:30. 

 I plan on starting with the 4:25 pace group. I got a bib at today's expo, but I'm too nervous to put it on. What if I fall too far behind? Then it's just a sign that I'm "failing", and, mentally, I won't be able to stay strong with that. I've decided that, for me, the best plan is to start "easy" and hope to pick up the pace as the race goes on. If it happens, great. If I stick with the 4:25 crew the whole way, great. 

HERE WE GO...