Just What I Needed

We had our last long run before the marathon. It was only 10 miles, and I mean that sincerely. When you slog through runs of 18 and 20 miles in 95 degree heat, 10 is like a sprint (and, helping us a long was the temperature, which was 40 degrees cooler).

I've been feeling nervous and burned out and completely unprepared for the marathon. Totally different, in fact, then I felt before my first. Except for the nervous part.

My foot injury made it impossible to put in the weekly miles I needed. The physical therapy I've been in for the past month has been time-consuming (six hours a week) and somewhat stressful trying to fit it in.

But boy, has it paid off. My foot doesn't hurt anymore. This is monumental, considering I've been in pain for more than seven months, to the point I couldn't chase after my kids.

I'm really working on a lot of balance and stabilization excercises to compensate for my hypermobile feet, ankles and back.

Last week I ran mileage like I should have been doing every week. And yesterday I had the best long run I've had since before I ever ran a marathon.

I ran at the pace I used to run before I started distance training. It was the pace I ran the first 10 miles of my very first half marathon, over a year ago.

The muscles that I've been strengthening and working so hard on have started to making a difference in my stride. I'm finally powering with my largest muscles (yep, you know it, my glutes!) and my body isn't flying all over the place.

I felt fantastic.

For one run.

I really, really needed it.

The marathon is one week from today. I have no idea how it will go. Unfortunately I'm getting a little unwanted visitor this week, if you know what I'm saying, so who knows how my hormones/intestines will react.

I can't think about it. I'm just looking forward to finally running a marathon with Torrey and Cindy - in matching purple shorts, no less!

My goal? To feel good enough to run it - and finish it.

And then never run that far again.

Until the next one.