With only 16 days until I run marathon #7, I have had many thoughts rolling around in my brain. So I thought I would share a few!
What Have I Done?
I am not prepared to run this race and I have not yet met my fundraising goal. In comparison to my Boston Marathon from last year, I am completely unprepared. This is the most unprepared I have felt, but I am making the best of the situation. Running a longer run this weekend and hoping for 15 miles at a comfortable pace so that I can manage to get through this race in one piece!
I Can Do This!
With my most recent marathon in January with little prep as well, I know that the marathon is 50% mental and 50% physical. I can keep my mental state in the right place to complete 26.2 miles. When I stop and think about the reason for doing the Chicago Marathon – the Ronald McDonald House Charity – I am able to put all things into perspective. I recall talking with a man during my last dinner prep at the Tampa RMHC House and how he makes the journey to Shriner’s from out of the country twice a year so that his daughter can have treatments for her neurological disease. He leaves behind a wife and 4 other children to be with one child as she endures uncomfortable treatments. The RMHC House allows him to have a comfortable place to sleep, a hot meal at night, and the peace of mind that he is never far from his daughter. I Can Do This!
What Will I Do Next?
Well… I will probably wait a very long time before I run another marathon. The marathon is a hard distance. It is a strain on my family while I train and a strain on my body that I need to take a break from. I have one last bucket list marathon that I would like to run in the next 10 years – the New York City Marathon. It will complete my tour of the World Majors that are held within the US. But for now, I will keep running the half marathon distance. I will loose some of the weight that my injured calf brought me last year post-Boston. I will focus on my social media business. I will embrace where I am and the hope I have for the future!
What Will You Do Next?
