Ready to hit the hay.
Clothes were laid out by their doorsteps with care
with hopes of Boston qualifying times dancing in the air....
That's all I got :)
In less than 11 hours, the gun will go off, and over 40,000 participants of all ages, shapes, nationalities, and backgrounds will all come together to run the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon/Half Marathon. As said by a runner in the documentary "Spirit of the Marathon," 39,980-ish of them will be running in the footsteps of the Elite runners that will take off first; they will finish well before most of us will hit the half way mark. What an exciting day!
At today's expo, Kristofor and I stood and watched Meb Keflezighi speak. He won the NYC Marathon in 2009, and was a 2004 Marathon silver medalist in the Olympic Games in Athens. What an inspiring guy to watch. He was born in war torn Eritrea and came to the US when he was 12. His attitude is infectious. Even just watching him speak for a few minutes gave me the goosebumps. He had some very insightful words into the pressures of running a race, regardless of the fact that NONE of us regulars will win.
When we take on these races, like a half marathon or the full, we inevitably talk it up to everyone we know. As the race gets closer, especially if it's your first time, you tell everyone you meet about it, you live, eat, and breathe for the moment you take the first steps. In doing that, we all create some sort of expectation for ourselves, and that expectation is mirrored by our peers. Every single person that starts tomorrow, expects to finish. All of our families, friends, and co-workers expect for us to come back to work Monday (or Tuesday...) and tell the tale of how they crossed the finish line. This is the expectation. This week, today, an hour ago, I worried, myself, that I wouldn't meet that expectation.
I say this with complete and total candor. I today, and this week, had doubts.
My right knee, since Wednesday, has been very sore, and somewhat swollen. I don't know why, don't know what I did to re-aggravate it (I haven't run since last Sunday...), but never the less, it has felt shaky and unstable. I've been icing, and icy hotting, and stretching, and wearing NO heels (I wore tennis shoes to work yesterday....), taking anti-inflammatories, the whole bit. And nothing made it better. Yesterday, it actually felt worse. I remember the Dr. telling me this summer when I had my MRI, "Lacy, it's chronic, it will flare up from time to time, nothing is torn, it's just going to happen, don't let it get in your head." It got in my head. I've spent all day trying to get it out of my head. And I think about half an hour, I got it out. I gave it away. How???? This is going to sound so stupid....
I taped it. With KT tape. After watching the YouTube video on "how-to" umpteen thousand times to make sure I got it right. And this tape made me feel so much better. Thank you THANK YOU
Thank YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Irma Cariaga-Moya
for telling me what to do. And calming my heart. And letting me know it would be ok. Thank you for my hug. You literally probably saved my race (I tear up just thinking about it). You are an angel!
So now I have bright yellow tape on my leg. To match my bright yellow head band that I'll be wearing. So stylish.
Meb also said today, the race preparation is 90% physical, 10% mental. Tomorrow is 90% mental, 10% physical. So true. I will chant that in my head. ALLLLLLLL MENTALLLLLLLLLLL!!! So for now, I'm going to drink the rest of my glass of wine, and get some shut-eye. 4am is going to come very early!
Good luck to all runners, but especially to my friends running the half for the very first time. I am so so so proud of each of you. Today, when I needed a little inspiration and pick-me up, I thought of you guys, and how far you've come, and how you have triumphed over pains and insecurities as well. And here you all are, ready to get it done tomorrow! We are all winners tomorrow, because we have all put in the time and effort that most would never be able to devote. Relax, enjoy it, take it all in, do your best, and make yourselves proud. Because you ALL should be so proud for making it here! Sweet dreams everyone! See ya downtown...CORRAL 12!!!!
Thanks for cheering me on,
Lacy
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