Taper week draws to a close

I have one more run before the Philadelphia marathon-a 4 mile easy jog tomorrow.  In the past couple of weeks I have gone from super confident in a fast time to very concerned.  The beginning and middle of my taper saw a very exhausted Audrey.  Now I feel rested but slow.  Running in the cold this morning it was hard to breathe and my two marathon pace miles were hard.  I've also come to terms with the fact that those race predictor calculators are way overestimating my ability (results based on my recent 1/2 marathon), but the question remains-by how much?

However, besides worrying about how I am going to do and how crowded the race will be-I am super excited for race day to be here!!  Only one more day of work!!  Only three more sleeps until the race!!!  AHHHhh!!!  My hotel actually emailed me to ask if I would stay in NJ 17 miles from the race instead of in their hotel one mile from the starting line and I replied...NOOOO.   I am platinum in your rewards program with a gazillion nights (I recently reached a new, higher level within platinum) and super loyal and I booked in the spring!!  Hands off my room!!

So...tiered race goals are...

Finish
PR (sub-3:36:44)
BQ (3:35:00)
BQ-5 (3:30:00)
RunningShorts family record (3:23 by my litte bro at Marine Corps 2010)

I guess we'll see shortly, eh?  No matter what happens...I trained REALLY hard for this and I am excited to be marathoning again.

Comments

[Laura]

Best of luck!

[Katherine]

Good luck, AP! I hope you kill it.

[Maija]

You'll do great. Good luck!