For the past week I’ve been worried because I didn’t feel any of the nervousness I usually feel before a marathon. I have actually been nervous about not being nervous. But last night it finally happened. After everyone was asleep I got up to turn off the few lights that were still on, checked the boys, checked that the door was locked and went back to bed. As I got comfortable and started to relax, it hit me: I am running a marathon in two days. Finally I was getting nervous, not as nervous as I was before my previous marathons, but since no traveling is involved this time and it’s my fifth marathon, it makes sense.
I’m confident in my ability to run a marathon. I’ve done it 4 times in the last two years and I’ve been training hard for the last few months since the Tiberias marathon. I’m the thinnest I’ve been in years (Jessica keeps telling me) and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. Joining a running group with a coach who pushes me to do better has made a difference in my training, and I know it should make a difference on race day. It has also helped build up my confidence.
When I decided to run the Tel Aviv marathon all I hoped for was to run another sub 4 marathon, but after training hard and running long distances at much faster paces than I ever thought I could, I have decided to aim a little higher. I’ve decided to try and break 3:55:00. My coach feels I can do even better than that, but I’m scared to be too ambitious. I would rather be safe than sorry.
The one wild card is still diabetes. Last time around, in January in Tiberius, I got it right. But as any person with diabetes knows, that does not guarantee success next time. I am still torn between the need to control my blood sugar and the need to load my body up with carbohydrates. All I can do, however, at this point is to try to relax and implement what I have learned over the last few years.
Note: Some may think that training and running marathons is difficult but actually it is much harder being married to a marathoner. Thank you Jess.