Reflections.........................

I was pretty amazed this morning how NOT sore I was upon getting out of bed. Not that I am ache free, just that I thought I would feel worse.

My muscles do feel used and a bit tired. Another reason why it is good that I have added an extra day off. I am really, really glad that I don't have running on my schedule today. I am not sure I am ready to do six miles tomorrow, but I am trying to keep an open mind.

What I have been thinking over and over today is, "How in the world do people do marathon after marathon, weekend after weekend? Certainly they are in better shape than I could ever hope to be in, but how much can one body be made to take? I keep thinking that if I feel the way I do at fifteen miles how in the world will I ever survive 18, 20, 24, and 26?

I am NOT an elite athlete (ya think?), but rather have a life in addition to running. Whether or not I feel like it the Monday morning after a long run I still need to walk, stoop, bend, navigate stairs, FUNCTION! I do not have the luxury of ordering room service and soaking in a tub. I actually feel lucky and blessed that I have the ability to take it so easy the remainder of Sunday, as I know many of you might not even have this.

I think that what comes into play then is my mental game. Can I keep plugging away as the miles rack up, the aches continue to grow stronger, the long runs longer? Will I be able to handle it when Monday mornings get harder and harder to face?

Of course I can/will! I can, and will succeed at anything I put my mind and heart into. I am giving this marathon my all and I talk in terms of when not if. I will not be put off my from dream. I will get to feel that finishers medal around my neck. The variables are not about finishing the race. They are about the many paths (physical AND mental) that I will need to travel to arrive at the start line ready and able to finish. To my "finish strong" mantra I am thinking of adding "always strong in body, mind, and spirit." What do ya think?