I am quite nervous. The marathon is coming up in less than 2 weeks and I am nervous. I am nervous about injury before race day. I am nervous about stomach upset around race time. I am nervous about my feet hurting at the 5km mark. I am nervous about not getting enough rest and sleep. I am nervous about cramps and stitches (yes I have randomly picked up a side stitch in the last two weeks!). I am nervous I will pick up an injury along the way. I am nervous about the weather being too cold/hot/humid/dry. I am nervous about not carbing up properly.
I am nervous about being nervous about getting another PB and, most of all, I am nervous that I will, finally, break the 4 hour barrier.
I still remembered that magical moment when I broke the 50-minute barrier at the 10K about 5 months ago. I came in officially at 49:33 (my actual time 10K time was actually 48:30 due to a slightly longer course). I worked hard on the tempo runs with my speedy paddling friend. I did intervals, fartleks! And I did it....
I remembered vividly how, at the last 1km I was about to give up. It felt too hard. The pacer who I was following ran ahead...he was so far away! I thought - it's going to be a PB anyway at 50:xx minutes...its ok. Next time...next time. There there don't cry...
My right calf were in excruciating pain due to a nagging injury at the time. My feet hurting. My brain was hurting. But my heart - through its precious beats through my chest, was telling me that I still have the horsepower to do it.
And at that point (around 300m to go) I faintly heard my pacer friend calling my name: "Come on! You have 40 seconds! Come ON!!!!" And I gathered up every single carbohydrate fuel droplets I have left and sprinted to the finish. 49:33. I was overjoyed, and wanted to puke at the same time! Oh that moment!
And I want to repeat that again. And I know I can. Sub-4 hours. Bring it on!
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