Here I am! Less than one week away from my first (and last) half-marathon! For the last four days or so I have pretty much had a nervous breakdown over this upcoming event. I have cried, laughed, screamed, paced, cried some more and worried. So.....now that I have gotten all that out of the way, time to start getting packed and ready for this lifetime event.
Apparently not only did I have to train for the last several months for this endurance event, but apparently there is a LOT to do the week and day leading up to the event. Of course you have to pack, like you would any trip you go on. But there is all kinds of stuff you have to remember to pack. Lord knows you don't want to show up 7 hours away from home to get to the starting line and leave your running shoes at home!
Then, there are certain times throughout the weekend that you have to "do stuff". Check in to get your "bag and bib" at the Expo, Meet up team members as they arrive, meet up with everyone for Inspriational Brunch, nap, meet up with team members for photo ops, meet up with team to load the bus, get to your proper "Corral" on time and then lastly be ready to "Run" at 10:00 p.m. Did I mention I have to fit in a nap in there somewhere?
My training simply did not go as well as I was hoping. This past week I was told if I can't maintain a 16 minute pace per mile they would pull me off the race track and not let me finish. That about did me in. Here I am, I have raised all this money for the LLS (more than I was required to), gotten up pretty much every week at 4:30 a.m. to travel for 45 minutes to train with the team, spent quite a bit of money on "proper running gear", and everything I have done to try to do this event, and now I'm told they may not even let me finish!!! I was devastated. I have worried all week, if I don't finish how am I going to come back home and tell everyone I let them down. A few wise people (hopefully they are wise - anyway) told me, not to worry about everyone else. I have done more already than a lot of people ever attempt to do and all I can do is go down there and do my best. So......that is what I am going to do. Guess there are worse places to be pulled out of a race then "The Happiest Place on Earth" right?! Plus, I figured if someone dared tried to pull me off that track I would begin running with all my might and they would have to catch me and drag me on the "slow people bus" first. I'm not going down without a fight - I assure you!!! At least if I get some cuts and bruises along the way, I can say I was pulled out of the race due to injury!
So, Saturday, October 2nd please keep me in your thoughts as I will be down in Orlando doing my best for the LLS! The race does not start until 10:00 p.m. that night so with any luck I will be crossing that finish line by 1:25 a.m. (I have until 1:30 a.m. but I certainly don't want to the be the last one crossing that line!!!)
Thanks to everyone for your support throughout this entire endeavor!!!
Tina
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