On the eve of the IL half marathon...

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run. - John Bingham

Tomorrow is the big day - the Illinois Marathon & Half Marathon. I've been training for this since my last race in January. I've been running around like a crazy all day to pick up race packets and then to cook a yummy spaghetti dinner for the fam. This year Justin and Jill will also be participating in the races. Justin will be running the 5K and Jill will be walking the 5K. I'm really excited that they are involved! :)

For those of you who run, you know that the week before a race is called the taper. It sucks. It's the worst part of training for a long distance event. For a whole week (sometimes two) you cut back on mileage. For this week you may only run 2 or 3 times, for short distances (3 miles). The ONLY purpose for these runs is to keep your muscles loose. This becomes a week of doubt and stress. A week of asking yourself if you trained long enough, if you trained hard enough. A week of worrying about EVERY possible thing that could go wrong on race day.

I will be leaving Mattoon at 5am (it's about an hour drive to Champaign) for a 7:30 start time. I'm currently doing a load of laundry. Why, you ask. Because I'm not sure what I'll feeling like wearing when I wake up. I'm planning on wearing my black running skirt. But what if I suddenly have the urge to wear my green running skirt? Are my favorite socks clean? What about my favorite shirt? I have to be up by 4am - hopefully I'll have to poo before I leave the house. What if I can't? What if I have to go once I start running?! Ugh. These are the things that runners freak out about during the taper! On top of these things, I'm anxious because last year I rolled my ankle at mile 1.5 of this race and wasn't able to finish. I've been overly careful with my ankle during training. I know that I need to stay positive, but I can't help worrying.

Then there's the question of pacing. I said a few weeks back that my goal is to break 2:30 for this half. Since the full & half start out together, my plan is to run with the 5 hour pace team. I think I can do it. I know I can do it. Still, I'm anxious.

Anyway, I met with my runner girls for lunch and packet pick-up today. They always make me laugh. I could tell I was anxious though, cause I dropped the F-bomb a lot. I can't help it. It's now 9pm and 4am will come very early, so I guess I should hit the sack. Good luck to all of you running tomorrow!! Wish me luck and check back for a race recap. :)