sharelle | Running Progress

The Marine Corps Marathon is two weeks from today and, after completing my final long run in preparation, I've learned a few things -- about myself and in general . . .

1) I can finish 22 miles and still have a smile on my face.

2) Under Armour is probably one of the best inventions in the world when it comes to outdoor athletics. (Overly-uncomfortable sweaty-ness, gone!)

3) My pace looks like it's going to be about 10 minutes per mile (give or take). I finished the 22 in 3 hours and 50 minutes total. (Which means I'll probably finish the marathon in about 4 and a half hours.)

4) I can hear my father say, "There's 6 miles to go," and not feel like groaning for him to shut up. In fact, I actually felt psyched when he gave me the "(x-miles) to go" news today. (Back when I ran cross country in high school I wanted to smack my coach whenever he popped up on the course with similar shouts of "encouragement.")

5) Other people (long-time runners) have noticed my improvement over these past several months, and have said so. That makes me feel great.

6) I'm a lot faster than I was.

7) I don't necessarily feel as though I'm going to die as the day wears on. In fact I feel pretty good.

8) Amazingly, I like hills. The Up better than The Down.

9) When there's a Port-O-Potty conveniently available, I don't seem to need it. Get about a mile's distance away from it, though, and boy . . .

10) I'm going to finish the 26. No problem.

I'll be tapering off with my distance over the next two weeks. (And trying to eat less carbs, so the pasta dinner will do its job on the night before. That will be the most difficult.)

The end is in sight, and I'm excited! I've already done so much more than I thought I was capable of!