Are We There Yet?

It's the evening before he marathon and I'm feeling strangely calm. It's too late to do anything differently now, but I'm happy that I've prepared as well as I can. I've run 20 miles twice, 18 miles probably 3 times and have tapered my training right down. 

I'm staying with a friend not far from the start of the marathon and am all ready to go first thing in the morning. 

I had a little wobble yesterday after I picked up my registration pack from Belfast City Hall and read that they expect everyone to finish within 6 hours. Whilst that might seem a long time to anyone who hasn't run a marathon (and many who have), I am not a fast runner, and am considerably slower than I was 30 years ago. It is by no means certain that I will finish within that time, although I feel that my training off road in sometimes hilly conditions might make tomorrow's run feel not quite so bad. 

So, not much I can do about my speed (or lack of). I'm looking forward to a long run, and the fact that it's the very long awaited marathon seems strangely beside the point. 

What I'm not really looking forward to:

1) The part of the course along the Sydenham bypass - boring dual carriageway

2) Worrying about finding a toilet en route when I need one

3) Spotting the place I stopped before - at approx 23 miles - in case I want to stop there again (luckily I can't remember much about exactly where it was)

4) Worrying about finishing after everyone else has gone home

What I *am* looking forward to:

1) A nice long run!

2) Running a special run with thousands of other runners

3) A nice day spent outdoors in mild spring weather

4) Looking at the trees come into leaf and flowers into bloom

5) Being nosy & looking at other people's gardens

6) Seeing parts of Belfast that I rarely visit

7) Running along the Lagan towpath, where I have never been before

8) Seeing Ormeau Park (where the marathon finishes) come into view

9) Just getting into the rhythm of a long run, when you feel like you could keep running forever

10) The opportunity to let my mind relax and unknot life's stresses

11) The support of the crowd as I start flagging