Hartford Marathon: Sub 4 or Bust

Alright so I am going to keep this pretty short and sweet. 

This week has been less about nerves than it has in the past. In general, really, there are no nerves. Just a pure sense of wonder. 

Will I be able to do this? 

Have I trained hard enough? 

Did I do everything I could to this point to set myself up for success?

The answer is, honestly, yes. 

I am sometimes way too hard on myself and do not give myself enough credit for what I manage to accomplish.

This has been a pretty damn awesome year for me.

I started a job in March that continues to evolve into something I love coming to every.single.day. (even those weekend days – annoying but I still like working!) With this job I have met some pretty damn awesome people who have become very close to me. (In fact, I owe the majority of my NYCM fundraising to their amazing generosity!)

I ran 2 marathons and an ultra marathon earlier this year – when as of October of last year I was dead set against EVER running a full marathon in general. 

After racing most weekends in spring I gave myself a whopping 2 weeks off after finishing a full marathon, 10K, half marathon and ultra marathon all in May - before diving head first into training again with my new coach. (and, note my first week consisted of a trail half marathon in Miami…I sure am sadistic). 

At the same time I was working 12 hour days preparing for our news network to launch. 

That meant 4 am wake ups and sacrificing sleep at every turn. 

Looking back I have no idea how I made it through summer without completely shutting down. 

I have FELT speedier. I think my training times SHOW I am. But with the marathon there is just the constant sense of wonder.

So let’s lay it out GOALS. 

As if we all don’t know what I want.

A: Sub-4 – it can be 3:59:59 and I will consider it a success

B: 4:05

C: PR = Sub 4:26

And there we have it. 

I might go radio silent a bit as I just absorb this time leading up to the marathon. 

Originally my buddy was going to travel up with me, but doesn’t look like she can and that is alright. In a way I need the time to be by myself and focus. 

I plan to have fun in this marathon and enjoy it, but I also plan to race. This marathon, I mean business.

I have felt very introspective. Kind of odd for me. I am a little bit scared by my goal but I do have confidence in myself. Just trying to maintain an air of calm. I just keep visualizing running strong and running my race. 

And with that, let’s bring on the race. 

Less than 48 hours to go. And about that long until I have this beauty hanging around my neck.