24 Hours Away and 26.2 Miles Ahead of Me

Its Almost 6 am as I type this up and I am a mix of emotions right now. I am nervous, excited, anxious, and hopeful. In 24 hours I step up to the starting line of the Zydeco Marathon for the second year in a row. Last year I only had one goal in mind. And that was to cross the finish line. This was my first marathon and I signed up with no formal marathon training under my belt. I just wanted to tackle the challenge of running a full marathon and I did it! I paid dearly for my lack of training as I was overwhelmed with fatigue and muscle cramps. But I did not let it stop me last year. But this year is a different story. I have spent the past few months pushing myself mentally and physically to prepare for this marathon. Back to back double digit mile runs, hill repeats, tempo miles, speed work, trail runs, and of course the weekend long runs. All of this to put my body through the worst so that I could perform at its best for this marathon. My goals this year is to not only finish but to also get that BQ (Boston marathon qualifier) that I have been dreaming of for over a year. And I plan on finishing well under the required time to make sure I get it. Now don't get me wrong, I am not just going into this marathon with a serious focus. I plan on having fun and enjoying the course too. Last year's event was so much fun and full of energy. The city as a whole comes together and it feels like a big party. This is why I have chosen the Zydeco marathon as the one I want to BQ at. It has a special place in my heart. The spectators and volunteers along the course make you feel like a rock star. The support is so overwhelming. Lafayette, LA knows how to put on a marathon and as the time draws near to step up the starting line, I feel the excitement begin to overtake all of my other emotions. Some may think I am crazy for being excited to run 26.2 miles. To take on a challenge that will test me mentally and physically. But I love it. To me, this is living!