A week to go

I'm not sure how to distinguish fear from anxiety or scared from nervous. A week short of the San Antonio marathon, and can feel something. That's a good thing. Imagine having no feeling!

After 14 marathons, I still find it exciting. It has changed for me though, from the uncertainity of completion to running a qualifier for Boston. Over time, I have developed a deeper appreciation that each one could be my last. Not to take anything for granted, even just finishing is not a given.

Pain is going to happen, but how much and will it be .... too much?

On Monday, during an easy 35 minutes, I felt a sharp pain at a point inside my leg about 4 inches about my knee. It travelled to behind my knee and then to the middle of my hamstring. There it stayed. I walked. I came home and the pain stayed for the day. It ensured I was aware of it's presence with any movement, even slightly pretending to stretch it. I check in with the new masseur Simon, who dealt out torture that you have to expect when you tick the deep tissue box on arrival. He left me brusied and sore to sit down (don't ask!) so the hamstring was lost in a whole new world of hurt.

Waiting until Friday, I tried another eay 35 minute run. It (the hamstring) hurt immediately and I became used to it. For the rest of the day I knew I had a problem. So I vowed not to run again until race day.

Today is Sunday and there is one week to go before the race. I believe my hamstring is improving and my spirit is lifted. I am also grateful that I will be starting taking nothing for granted.

The goal is 3:15 but I will be happy to walk away under 3:20. More than that is going to feel like a failure. I guess this is all self generated pressure. But that is what makes it exciting.