~ 63 Days ~ A Love Letter ~

63 days.  Perhaps, to a 5 year old 63 days is an eternity.    Perhaps.   But to someone training for a marathon those 63 days are do or die.   9 weeks until Marine Corp Marathon.   An eternity to some.   But not to me.

Up until very recently, my training has been a bit of a roller coaster ride.   Up Up Up and then way down.   I won’t bore you with all of the reasons because honestly, it’s starting to bore me as well.   This running thing, it’s my thing.   And no matter what happens, running will always be my thing.

I am not the type to talk incessantly about my training, my long runs, my long runs 3 weeks from now.  That is not how I roll.  I take 1 day at a time.  I don’t plan to far ahead, because things can change very quickly.   I stay focused on the big picture and the little things I have to do to get there.  With that said:

I got through a long run that I wasn’t at all sure about.   NYRR has 2 long training runs and I signed up for both of them.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the first one, but I sure as heck was going to make the 2nd one.  So, yesterday I got on the train at the ungodly hour of early-0-clock to get to Central Park at 7am.  I told you EARLY!  Sure, I was a bit apprehensive, but Coach Caleb told me to run 14 miles.   Had to listen.   I went back and forth deciding how to approach this run and at the end decided to try to run as much as possible with minimal walk breaks.  That is not to say I ran the entire 14 miler without stopping.  But, it is to say, I ran a lot of it.  That is also not to say that walk breaks are not a good thing.  NYRR did a nice job, after each loop with stops for gatorade, pretzels, bananas and gels.   Plus the needed porta-potties.   I stuck with the 11 minute pace group.  I really enjoyed this run.  Being in a group was really great as it simulated race conditions complete with mile markers and water stops.  I got it done with a smile on my face.  I also saw 4 friends along the way which gave me a nice boost.  Afterwards I decided to stop at the medical tent for some bags of ice.  I plopped myself down on the grass and iced my quad and heel.  Yep, they even had a medical tent.  Well done NYRR.  Well done Michelle.

I now feel 100% back on track in my training.  Coach Caleb gave to me a “burnout-proof” plan.   He updated my training plan for me and it’s exactly right.  FOR ME.  I need to build endurance.  And I am building my endurance.  Both physically and mentally.   And I like that I feel stronger.   I appreciate that I feel stronger.

I have to decide what kicks I will be wearing for the big day.  Being that I have some issues with my heel, I thought that wearing a bit of a more cushioned shoe would be the answer.  So, I purchased the Brooks ~ Ghost 3’s and wore them for my 14 miler.   NO GO.  At first they felt a bit clunky as they weigh 9.2oz and I was really hoping that the extra weight would work itself out.  It never did.   They never felt comfortable and I was so disappointed.   I can only describe it as too much shoe for me.

The Brooks Launch weighs 7.5oz and the K’s that I love weigh 6.7oz.   I will exchange the Ghosts for the Launch and be on my way.

I have so much swirling in my head and its all good stuff.  I am proud of my own self.  I really am.   I never need anybody to feel proud of me.  It’s nice and its welcome but I don’t need it.   What I do need is good food, the support of my family and some close and special friends.  Oh and I need to run.   Wait, no.  I want to run.  I never need it.  If I needed to run that would be pretty sad.   The swirling always continues.

So, 63 days until MCM.  9 weeks.  Just about 2 months.  Rocktober 31st.   Yes, I just changed October to Rocktober.  More on that later.  Or not.  The best part of going to DC with my sister is the fact that I will be meeting some really cool Daily Milers and Twitterers.   It is going to be a blast.  I am pretty sure that I will meet these people and form a bond and become life-long friends.  MCM will seal us all together, you know how when you were kids and you pricked your finger and blended your blood together.   Or something like that.

Swirling, I told you……

And now my love letter:

My Dearest Friends,

…should I draw you the picture of my heart it would be what I hope you would still love though it contained nothing new.  The early possession you obtained there, and the absolute power you have obtained over it, leaves not the smallest space unoccupied.

I look back to the early days of our acquaintance and friendships as to the days of love and innocence, and, with an indescribable pleasure, I have seen near a score of years roll over our heads with an affection heightened and improved by time, nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the image of the dear untitled friends to whom I gave my heart.

Ok, ok that was written by Abigail Adams to John Adams, her husband.   SWIRLING………

Love Michelle