It's happening...

This is it, almost race time. 16 weeks ago, I was about to sit on a bench at the Running Room to get my first taste of training for a marathon. Boy was I scared, overwhelmed, enthusiastic, and all gung ho but most of all, scared. I knew the coming months would be challenging because of the heat. Some would say that I projected the future but I know myself well enough to know how I react in this type of weather. But I was also determined to do it.

I remember the first run so well. I didn’t have water! I thought, stupidly, that only 6k would be just that, 6k run. What I didn’t know was that it was tempo AND straight running. Ahhh.... I thought I’d die by the time we reached the 1k mark. How humbling it is... So note to self, bring water. We actually were warned by the coach that if we didn’t have water, he didn’t want us to go out with the group. 

I had my ups and down during the training, times when I would tell myself that I would just finish that f&%** run and then quit. I even said it to one of my coaches. Of course I wouldn’t quit. I’d go for brunch with the group and rehash the run, discussing what I did or didn’t do. Then the next run would be awesome, enough to bring back my self confidence. This went on until we started hills. I love hills. It is, bar none, my favourite training component. I feel strong when I do hills, they’re not easy by any means but there is something rewarding conquering it again and again. And it helps so much with your other runs. When there is a hill during a long run, you don’t look at it and say “oh no... a hill”, you say “ok, a hill, no biggie”.

I have to say that what really helped me through the cycle was the camaraderie I experienced with the group. I didn't feel alone in my woes. By talking to others, I would discover that they were ALL going through the same thing, even the fast one :) And I would get, and offer, reassurance. It's a give and take. You give and you get something back by encouraging someone.

So here I am, about to do the race. The one that I so wanted to do last year. The one that is in motherland. The one that will allow me to put after my name, marathoner. I feel strong, confident, I can do this. I am ready.

See you at the finish line, MIT.