Pacing at tempo

• Wed, Jan 20: 2 miles in 21min 50sec, 1 mile in 10min 15 sec.

This day, I was really wondering whether to go, as my stomach was quite upset. But I wanted to keep breaking in my shoes, and I felt the guilt/commitment, so I toughed it out and went. Nevermind that I wanted to hurl and my stomach was bouncing around so much I swear I could feel and hear the bubbles forming and bursting. (Eew). I ran at pretty good paces for me, so afterwards I really had that feeling that yes, if I can keep this up even when feeling quite bad, I can do this. Really. Not just the intellectual trying not to freak out - I really felt it.

Let me explain that last sentence. I went online and looked up the ING Miami Marathon website, the race course, the participant info, etc. I reread having to keep up a 14min pace (or the buses will pick you up), but I was feeling slightly better about this after Saturday's practice. Then I read that you have to reach the 12.8mile point in 3hrs 15 minutes, or you will not even be allowed to continue on with the full marathon. This freaked me out in a big way. Honestly, I just had to reason it out with myself for a day or two. Once I'd calmed down, I went back and checked if it was 3hrs 15 minutes from the start, but luckily it's 3 hrs 15 mins shoe-tag time, due to the extra time for the corrals (and I'm sure I'll be in the last one). I kinda figured I would be able to make it, so I just kept working on keeping myself calm and not psyching myself out as usual. But after Wednesday, I don't know. I felt it. I didn't have to reason with myself. I just feel like I can do it. And it's AWESOME. I always have to work at motivating myself, so this is a dream come true - a dream that had better last until January 31st at midnight.

So, I'm going to stay calm, and not get too excited because I want to keep all that energy for the big day, and do my research so I can have my infinitesimally small freakouts way ahead of time so that I'll have my mental armour for the big day, and keep visualizing me crossing that finish line. Go team Janine. :)