Monday, May 3, 2010

Anything Can Happen

Do me a favor? Take the poll to the right –> sometimes the blog layout shows up differently than I see it, so I want to make sure I am optimizing your reading pleasure.

With only six days to go until the marathon, I’m in full taper mode. I’m pretty sure I’m coming down with Malaria and have several stress fractures in my left foot. Or at the very least I’ve got some parasite that will cause me to spontaneously crap and lose feeling in my legs come Sunday.

For sure, I’ve got butterflies.

When I tell non-running people I’m feeling some nerves about the race, they always say the same thing, “You’ll do fine. You can run that far, you’ve done it before.” What they don’t get is that the distance is not the issue. I could lace up my shoes and go out and run 26.2 miles right now if I wanted to. The issue is I have a way in which I want to run the race. I’ve got time goals. Friends, I have plans!!! Plans that I do not want thwarted by blisters, snow, crappy pants, the need to pee, cramps, or any other issues the running gods want to throw at me.

Having plans reminds me of talking to my OB in my last month of pregnancy. I told him how the birth was going to go. He stood there, smirking, shaking his head. He said something like, “That all sounds great. But be prepared to throw it out the window at any moment because anything can happen.” Isn’t there some saying about God laughing when we make plans?

The doc was spot on. I never anticipated soiling the delivery table numerous times or the epidural not taking or my son being sunny side up instead of face down (eggs anyone?), or all that blood or baby having to be suctioned out by some crazy vacuum like device causing him to look like a conehead from SNL in the 80s. But it all worked out anyway, and was one of the best days of my life. Sunny side up is 12 years old now, and the way it went on that October day years ago was perfect.

Here’s what I know: I’ve put in the time. I’ve done the work. I am strong. I am fit. I cannot control the weather. I cannot control my unpredictable bowels. I can, however, expect the best and remember the point of it all: I love to run, and if I lose sight of that, the big picture, I’ve got nothing.

52 comments:

  1. The last statement sums it up best!!! You'll rock it. Just don't poop your pants!

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  2. you go girl :) i feel you with the friends comments on just finishing. but you will do more than just finish. you will rock it. youve totally put in the work and are ready to go :)

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  3. Love of running!! Yep, that's the most important thing. I understand goals, not just running that distance. Good luck! I'm pulling for you.

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  4. Love that peptalk, you will not do "fine" you will do F***ING AWESOME! ;D

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  5. As strange as this might sound, I love hearing about other women's pregnancies and giving birth. I want to be prepared for *anything*!

    I wish I had some fantastic words of wisdom for you but I really don't because the world of running is foreign to me. But I wish you the very best!

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  6. I'm running a marathon in a month and I'm going to come back and read this. It's perfect! Thank you!!!

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  7. Well said! I'm trying to remind myself of these things as well as the doubts set in.

    Eggs will never be the same again...

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  8. If you have more doubt, reread your last paragraph. Yes, anything can happen, but you are prepared for that and I'm sure will face whatever comes your way head on! :)

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  9. I loved this. So very true. I'm with Aimee - - that last paragraph ---- says it all.

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  10. You have got this!!! It is going to be wonderful! Have a great taper week!

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  11. I love comparing the marathon to childbirth. But you are trained so, whatever happens, you can handle it.

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  12. Tapering is not good for one's psyche, that's for sure. Why would you be thinking about running a marathon and labor at the same time. You don't expect them to give you an epidural before your race, do you? :)
    Have loads of fun running, every mile of it.
    And then write a nice and funny(!) report.

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  13. Failure is not an option...

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  14. I totally get that; it's the unknown that always freaks me out before marathons. Anything can happen. But you know you're ready and that confidence should count for so much. Take that with you.

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  15. All that crap (banners, counters, ads, etc) down the right side of your blog keeps timing out my browser as it's loading. I have to kill the scripts that are running. I like the look of the layout otherwise. Easy to see/read.

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  16. Talking to non-runners about anything running related always seems to result in weird advice or encouragement, doesn't it? You've got it right though - you love to run and will have fun no matter what. Even though I bonked at my half on Saturday, I still had a blast :) (Okay, maybe not a "blast." I still had fun though!)

    I like the site as it is. Honestly, I read it in reader then come over to comment. Yours is one of the more easy to use blogger sites Ihave been on.

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  17. yay, it's normal. keep thinking happy thoughts, and laugh at the unhappy ones:)

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  18. Thank you for that reminder. I have a little longer until my marathon, but I've been completely stressing out. Need to remind myself that I am doing this because I enjoy running.

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  19. I just finished my first marathon yesterday and I couldn't control the weather (80s) or the fact that I was still sick. But I, like you, love to run and am SOOO happy just to finish. You will do amazing. Think of it as another training run!

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  20. Love love love the last comment!

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  21. I have a list of my favorite running quotes. I added your last paragraph to it.

    Enjoy the taper!!

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  22. Have a great time running your ass off! I agree the suction is not a fun option. My husband said our daughter looked like she had a pudding cup stuck on her head the whole time I carried her. He might have been right about that one.............

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  23. Beth, I can't believe the time is here already! I remember what you went through last year and you've made it. You're strong, ready, excited and you're going to have the time of your life! Keep that big picture in your mind the whole time, find a positive mantra to repeat when you get tired and lean forward, you're going to DO SO WELL!

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  24. I like the way you think! I finished my first half ever yesterday and the day before the race I thought I was having back pain, quad pain, arch pain, allergy issues and knee pain. I am sure it was all my head playing issues with me. Once I started running I felt great.
    Hope you have an AWESOME race!

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  25. okay I will stop lurking to say that I adore your blog. I can't wait to hear how the marathon goes!!

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  26. There are two things that surely cannot happen to you, 1) you cannot run this marathon unprepared (too late for that, you've done all the work) , and 2) you cannot run this marathon without all of your followers cheering you on (albeit, from a distance)! You're gonna do great!!

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  27. Hope you have an awesome race and achieve all your goals!

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  28. I hear you girl. Trust your trianing and you WILL be able to adjust to whatever the running gods throw at you!

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  29. Beth. I know you're going to do great! And don't worry about the poop. I saw plenty of people with poopy pants yesterday and they didn't seem to let it stop them! You're strong. You'll rock it...Thanks for all your inspiring words the last few weeks. They really helped a lot!

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  30. You're gonna rock that marathon out...I really hear ya on the "I have plans" bit - because we all do. And I know that your plan A, plan B, and plan C - which are all laid out - even if you say they're not - cause we know they are (!) - are going to go accordingly. :)

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  31. OMG, you could not have said it any better! Rock on with your bad self girl!

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  32. It's good to have butterflies, it's how we honor the race you trained so hard for!! You're going to do great, girl, I just know it. I'm planning on being there, I'll email you soon...

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  33. For sure! Good luck this weekend, you are going to rock it!

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  34. you're gonna do it. wish i had a witty comment at the moment, but i dont but wanted to just say..you ARE gonna make those times. ;-)

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  35. Sounds like you've done what you should and everything is normal...normal for a runner the week before her marathon anyway.

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  36. Eggsactly ;) ...in honor of sunnyside up

    You said it perfectly! Rock that marathon!

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  37. Great summary at the end, indeed! So glad that you're feeling good, and ready to run!

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  38. Best of luck this weekend! And I really love your new layout, btw.

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  39. You're so smart...I'm sending all my good weather energy north!

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  40. Nope, birth doesn't go as planned. I learned that! Don't eat beans the night before and maybe your race will go even better than planned. :-) GOOD LUCK!

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  41. i remember feeling the same way going into my bq attempt and coach said the same things you just said to yourself. you put in the time and training...now trust it. you're ready and you're going to do great!!

    oh, and regarding poo...even with all my stomach problems, it didn't bother me AT ALL on race day. it's like my pooper knew to be good that day!

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  42. wow you got me all worried about your race with those details...and clearly the reasons I am never giving birth

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  43. INDEED!!!! That is definitely the right perspective to have AND employ

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  44. I just wanna say I love your blog and GOOD LUCK on your race!

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  45. you are going to ROCK the race this weekend!!! i cant wait to hear about it!!!

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  46. GOOD LUCK this weekend.

    I was looking for a "not enough bikini pictures" button, but there wasn't one. So, I voted too dark. I see you as more of a yellow person. BRIGHT.

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  47. great post! you are so right, we can only control so much, which is hard for a control freak like me!

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  48. Right ON, sister! You're running well and you're gonna rock it!!!!!

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