I certainly hope Ben was right!

Well...we are down to the last week before the big day...the Flying Pig Marathon kicks off at 6:30 am on Sunday, May 2nd. As I think about the past couple years when I "ran" the half marathon, I recall conversations I had with Ben Stigar from my team at work. He would always tell me how much of a mental game running must be due to the number of seemingly unfit people who are out there running the race!

As I looked around during those years, he was right...there are plenty of people in the marathon who definitely feast on pizza and burgers and have more than 8% body fat. Yet, they seem to easily chip away at it - mile after mile. I also talked to a couple pepole that did not seem to be in any real shape and actually seemed somewhat lazy who all contended that they ran a marathon.

Although I do know that there is some level of fitness that is needed (and it is significant), I think Ben is right...the run is very much a mental game. As I have mentioned time and time again, I find myself coming up with excuses to stop throughout any long run. The last one took 3 hours...plenty of time to focus on how sore your muscles are...or that something else you could be doing...or how hungry you are for a Whopper with Cheese.

To counteract the effect, I tried to think about my son and the focus and attention he must put into his school day after day. There is no question, he works much harder than I. I also found myself taking inventory as I ran along...trying to quantify my breathing and how my legs are doing. Most of the time, I would analytically come to the realization that I was not in as bad of shape as my emotions were telling me.

Currently, the weather forcast is not looking too promising...thunderstorms and lows only in the mid-50s, highs near 80 degrees. Hopefully, they weatherman is way off base...I much prefer a sunny day starting out at 45 degrees and onyl getting up to 60! But if Ben is right - I simply need the right attitude to take on whatever challenge lies ahead. I do look forward to the race...almost as much as I look forward to finishing it!