I’m gradually shifting gears.  My mind has been so full from all the fun in Berlin that I’ve had a difficult time remembering I have another marathon to run in 16 days!  Time to quit reminiscing and start doing mental prep work for MCM (Marine Corps Marathon).

Last night I received the email telling me my Bib number.  That finally made it real.  If I have my Bib number, that makes it official, doesn’t it???

In preparation for Berlin, I knew the course was a flat as they come.  My training, therefore, had been as flat as I could make it.  Flat races are in some ways harder on your body than hilly ones.  On a flat course, you use the same muscles the entire race.  Those muscles get tired!  I trained so that those muscles were used to the fatigue.

Now, MCM, the first three miles are uphill.  That’s going to be tough!  It takes me a good 5 miles to get warmed up.  Having to run up when I’m not really all that warmed up…not fun.  Yes, I know I could run around, stretch and all to get my body all warmed up and ready for the start but I’ll be honest,  I’m going to need every ounce of energy I have to complete this race and I don’t want to “waste” that energy by warming up a lot.

Call me a sissy.

So, aside from walking to the start, I will not be warmed up at the start of MCM.

Three miles, uphill, to kick off the race.  After the first 3, I’ve heard that through mile 8 it’s some “gently rolling hills.”  Once you get through mile 8, it’s pretty flat for the rest of the race.  That’s a win!  Well…except for the last .20 of the race.  That is supposed to be straight uphill again.

I’ve been dwelling on all of this and working on a race strategy for MCM.

My marathon goal pace is supposed to be 10:45.  I’m going to be frank and tell you right now that I don’t think I’ll be able to do that.  I’d love to but I’m tired.  That’s it in a nutshell.  I’m beat.

However:

I know that to get that elusive 5 hour marathon, I need to have an average pace of 11:15-11:30.  THAT I think (hope!) I can do.

So, while my goal for Berlin was a 4:45 marathon (which I missed by a very large margin) I’m thinking that my goal for MCM will be to get that 5 hr marathon.  Actually, 4:59:59 would be wonderful!  A sub 5 marathon!?!  Hahaha!!!  I’d be dancing in the streets of Washington DC!

That brings us back to those hills.  I’m thinking that if I can hold a 12:30 pace on those first 3 miles, I’ll have a lot of time to gradually catch up the lost time.  I’ll have to really hustle but I think (think!) I might be able to pull it off.

That’s what I’m thinking.  Any thoughts from y’all are most welcome!

On a completely different note, Aiden got his Berlin package yesterday.  We mailed it Monday morning.  That was fast!!!  His mom took a pic of him with all of his loot and posted it to FB today:   *He was sawing logs when his mom took the pic.  Funny, that!*

What a sweetie!!!  I am a very lucky gal to get to run for him!

Seeing as the weather is cooling off a little bit here in Mississippi, I haven’t been having to run at dark o’clock.  That has been so nice!!!  I’m still up early enough to see the pretty sunrises and snap a few pics.  This is from this morning:

Then, just for giggles, I saw this yesterday on FB.  A friend of mine had shared it and I swiped it from her.  Hit my funny bone.  And with this I’ll wrap this up:

Well, I’ll toss in a Paxton pic because I haven’t shared one of him for a few days.  Hahaha!!!

That’s it!  Don’t know if I’ll blog over the weekend.  I usually take the weekends off.  Have a great weekend!!!