This will be the last entry prior to the Steamtown Marathon for 2006. Its just about 12 hours until the start of the race, and the pre-race jitters have already started. I don’t expect to sleep much tonight, and have taken all the precautions of hydrate, carbs, stay off my feet, watch what I eat .. etc, etc so I hope it pays off. the only concerns I have at this point are the slight head-cold I feel coming on (my sinuses have been congested all day) and of course my foot. I know both will be an issue tomorrow, but I know I can make it through.

I think back to the time when I first started training for this marathon, right after memorial day …. can you believe, memorial day??? This training is all i’ve lived for since the beginning of the summer, and if you can believe it or not, i’m planning for my next set of marathons for next spring, so I must have done something right. There are some things I learned about myself during the training, namely that I can achieve anything if I put my mind to it. I had many early morning, late nights, long runs, injuries and obstructions in my way during training, and i’ve overcome them all. I know that these are the things that will make me strong through the race tomorrow.

The weather should thankfully be ideal for the race, although starting a little cool (in the mid to upper 30’s at the start) .. it should be in the 60’s by the time we finish .. talk about finding it tough to decide what to wear.

So the bag is packed, clothes are laid out, I have my directions and my GU gel ready … I think i’m physically and hopefully mentally ready for this. My motto during this race (which i picked up somewhere) is to go “One Mile At A Time” … every mile will be a challenge, and there is no sense in looking more forward than I have to.

I’m not sure when I will post my wrap-up of the race, it will depend on how I feel after the race, but i’ll have to change the name of the blog I think since I won’t be training for Steamtown moving forward until next year …

May God watch over me tomorrow and give me the strength to make it and stay safe.
Off the bed ….