T Minus 5 days...

...until my first race of the season!  This Sunday, May 1, I will run the Lincoln (NE) National Guard Marathon and (in my case) Half Marathon and I can't wait!  I was feeling a little burnt out on the training for a few days (thanks primarily to the nonstop rainy weather we've been having and my loathing of the treadmill.  Have a mentioned I hate the treadmill???) and was experiencing some tightness in my ankle, so I took a few days off, and it seems to be just what I needed.  I am so geared up to run that I'm dreaming about it!  (Seriously.  Two nights ago when my mind was racing and I couldn't fall asleep thinking about work and wedding planning, I pictured myself running, immediately calmed down, and fell asleep.  What a trick!)  I'm hoping to get in a short run or two before I take off for the great state of Nebraska on Friday - mostly because I don't know if I can go a whole week without a run and then, the race is on!

This is a special race for me for many reasons. First and foremost, Lincoln is home - no matter how long I've been away - and there is something great about coming home to run a race.  The support from fans along the course is phenomenal - families and friends get together and sit in their lawn chairs all morning eating, drinking, and cheering on the marathoners and half-marathoners.  (Almost like a 4th of July parade, and I love a good parade almost as much as a fresh baked brownie!  Trust me - that's a lot of love.)  In addition to "home court advantage", I will be running this race with two of my dear friends and bridesmaids in my upcoming wedding.  How does it get any better than that?  I totally love these ladies and am looking forward to a weekend full of running and festivities with them.  (Saturday, the day before the race, they are throwing me a wedding shower.  Are these great friends, or what???  Here's hoping the mimosas don't get the best of me...) Another reason I'm looking forward to running the Lincoln Half this weekend is because it represents to me how far I've come in my health and wellness journey.  Four or five years ago I walked this race with my maid of honor - a sort of celebratory journey for us after she lost a significant amount of weight over the course of the year prior.  We "trained" for the walk by taking long walks (hours long - I'm pretty sure her husband thought we were going to have drinks somewhere.  Which wouldn't be unheard of...) on the weekend, enjoying each others' company and getting caught up on all things gossip worthy.  At that time, I didn't even want to entertain the thought of actually running a race...ugh, yuck!  On race day, we ran approximately the first mile, then jogged on and off throughout the race.  (Some on, but definitely more off.  And only for a minute or two at a time in my case.)  I ran the last 1/4 of a mile and then was pretty sure I was going to die.  Finishing breathless, sweaty, and sore, I couldn't figure out why anybody would do that to themselves for more than a few minutes at a time.  This weekend, however, I will be taking on this race with a whole new perspective.  Not only do I know I can run 13.1 miles, I enjoy doing it! I have really trained, and I'm hoping to finish in a personal best time of 2 hours and 15 minutes.  (Hey I never said I was fast, just that I like to run!) 

So, until we meet again, I'm off to the races!  Happy running!