PB: T-1 Day to the Philly Marathon!!!!
Phantom injuries? Check.
Paranoia? Check.
Fear of not finishing and that I’m not ready? Check.
Bad dreams?!?!! Check.
Yes – I’ve completed the tapering process. With the marathon less than two days away, I’ve gone through and suffered through tapering. After reading many articles about the importance of tapering, I actually decided to listen to the experts. But it is SO hard to go from running 30-40 miles per week consistently for months to just going for a few light jogs. But rather than focus on the tribulations of tapering, with just two days left, here are the things I am most looking forward to for Sunday:
1. Fellow first time marathoners: It’s always comforting being surrounded by other people running their first marathon and hearing them talk about how nervous they are – reminds me that I’m not alone!
2. Traveling through Philly: The marathon course is actually a very good representation of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. It doesn’t cover everything of course – but it does mix up the city with the scenic. The best part about marathons is that for that morning, the streets are closed off to cars and we own the streets (and I don’t have to get honked at for crossing streets when I don’t have the right of way).
3. Cowbells: Don’t ask me why, but I really like the sound of people in the crowd banging on cowbells during a race. Reminds me of college I think.
4. My music: I am not one to set a list of certain songs to play. I like the surprise of what song is going to come next – it distracts me mentally from the run. I’m a shuffler – so one song that I like one day may be automatically skipped the next day. So a pre-set list just isn’t for me. I like categories of music…and I love listening to music. So I like to think of this as a 4 hour music listening sessions during which my feet will be moving.
5. Gu Gels: There’s nothing I love more than ripping open that metallic wrapper and squeezing that fake flavored slime into my throat. I am not looking forward to this (although some things are necessary).
6. The mile markers: I have never run a full marathon, but in the half marathons and 10 milers I have done, I love running past the mile markers. Each one gives its own sense of accomplishment and the best part is when they start to go by more quickly…you are at mile 5, and before you know it, it’s mile 12.
7. Seeing my RhodeyGirl: I know RhodeyGirl is going to be coming to see me on the course – and I can’t wait to see her. She always has a smile on her face and has been BEYOND supportive for the 4-5 months that I have been training.
8. The finish line: I am not even going to try and pretend that I know what this feels like – but I am excited for it.
9. Ice bath: Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I really like ice baths. It gives you a chance to recover, reflect on the race, and STOP MOVING! The fact that it always leads to rejuvenated legs and a good post-run party….
10. Post Run Party: THIS is the best part – food, drinks, relaxing and spending time with friends. I don’t want to focus too much on this part now – because I haven’t earned it yet.
But I’m feeling rested, excited and ready to run the marathon. And hungry…I’m always hungry!
Note from RhodeyGirl: I will be at the 17 & 23 mile marker with a hot pink sign- if you see my say hello!!!!!
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18 Responses to “PB: T-1 Day to the Philly Marathon!!!!”
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Best of luck!!! We will be cheering you on 🙂 I love that you put cowbells on this list (we need more cowbell!). And the very sweet note about Rhodey Girl 🙂 Can’t wait for the recap
GOOD LUCK! You pretty much took the words out of my mouth when you said it’s like 4 hours of listening to music. I put my iPod on shuffle and my music varies from rap to Glee to Billy Joel and everything inbetween 🙂 Hopefully I’ll get to congratulate you in person tomorrow at the party. Have fun tomorrow! (I need to take my own advice there!)
Good luck! You are going to kick butt! I wish I could be there to cheer you on, but I will have to do so from north Jersey!
good luck to PB and have fun at your post-party!
Have an awesome time!! See you at the party!
Good luck PB!!
Cheering you on! I look forward to hearing a recap. Kev and I are going to walk the Reggae Marathon half in 2 weeks (in Jamaica) and I’m a bit nervous as it will be my 1st race although I was able to get to 10.6 miles here at home so I feel I’ll be good to go. Plus with Reggae bands at every mile, that should keep things interesting.
Anyway, you are just like Kev when it comes to music. He has his on shuffle too. Me? I like to know the next song.
Have a great race!
Sabrina, I wish you the best of luck on your marathon! Just so you know, I am using your shopping bag almost daily. I love how bright it is!
Good luck, PB!!! Have an awesome time!
Good luck! Can’t wait to hear how you do! Enjoy that ice bath…brrr!
I’ll be thinking of you! Good luck!
Good luck PB!!!!
good luck, PB!! So exciting! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
good luck!
Best of luck tomorrow!! Try to take it all in and enjoy it as much as you can – there’s nothing like your first full marathon! My brother, sister-in-law and a bunch of their friends are running in Philly tomorrow, too. I will be tracking you all and rooting you on from up here in Rhode Island! 🙂
You will do great! I would be thinking about the after party the whole time 😀
Make sure you don’t chicken out on that ice bath!
Congrats! Hope you had a great race! I ran the half today and weather was awesome! I agree that the course represented Philly well! I kind wished there were more fans along the course, did you feel that way at all?