Six months have flown by. I can't believe in exactly 2 weeks I will be in Paris at the starting line. Training is tapering down and excitement is building for sure. This week my team had a final "Coaches Meeting" to discuss final logistics and training strategies. At the end of the event, each team member was given a certificate stating that we are "Marathon Ready".
I must admit that I am not sure I feel "marathon ready" quite yet. Despite my best efforts, I am still lacking endurance and speed. If you have been reading my blog, you will know that speed has always been my concern, yet, about half-way through the season (as mileage started creeping up), I decided to focus on endurance instead of speed. While I have made great progress with endurance (just completed 18 miles last weekend), I am still 8.2 miles short of the marathon distance and still painfully slow. Secretly, I wish I had one more month to train, but that is just not to be.
Instead of focusing on the pieces that are still lacking, I plan to spend the next few weeks thinking about the things I have accomplished. In 6 months, I have gone from coach-potato to a marathon participant. I have learned more about my body (what it likes/doesn't like, what it can/can't do, how much it can take) than I have in 39 years. I have stretched my endurance beyond all the limits I had put on it. I am probably in the best shape I have been in for years, despite the fact that I haven't lost any weight. And, I have proven that if I can do it, ANYONE can make a difference in their health and fitness level.
Looking back, there are 2 things, that I am most proud of: 1) raising awareness and money for such a great cause, in honor of heroes who had more courage than I can ever dream of 2) being an inspiration to others who may be nervous about taking their first step in fitness.
There is still a lot of planning to do over the next few weeks, but just like the past 6 months, I will take it day-by-day. String all those days together and I will be ready to rock on Apr 11th!
Until next time,
Lisa
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